Created: 18th June, 2025
Robert joined Barker in 2002 and is a Partner based in our Braintree office. A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, he has over 20 years’ experience of all core building surveying services and provides strategic estates advice to key accounts in the education, commercial, ecclesiastical and public sectors.
An education specialist, he provides the following services: estates and energy strategy, asset management planning, project management and capital funding applications.
Robert works closely with clients to plan and implement energy efficiency and sustainability strategies to save money, reduce carbon emissions and meet ESG objectives.
As a RICS Certified Historic Buildings Professional he provides conservation consultancy for clients with listed and historic buildings.
Robert is an experienced APC Assessor and Chairman and is also an external examiner for Anglia Ruskin University
As a Partner Robert leads the Business Development and Marketing function at Barker, builds relationships with key sector bodies and helps steer the strategic growth of the company.
Email: rgould@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648057
The Department for Education’s Condition Data Collection (CDC) programme is one of the largest property condition surveys undertaken in the UK public sector. Between 2021 and 2026, the programme is collecting condition data from more than 22,000 schools and further education colleges across England.
As the second phase of the programme, often referred to as CDC2, the initiative provides the DfE with a detailed overview of the condition of the education estate, helping to inform future funding decisions and capital investment priorities.
This guide explains what Condition Data Collection is, why it matters, and what schools and Academy Trusts should do before, during and after a CDC survey.
The CDC Programme is a DfE-led programme that gathers information about the condition of school and college buildings across England.
The purpose of the survey is to provide a national picture of the condition of the education estate. The information collected supports the DfE in planning future investment and developing long-term CDC plans for maintaining and improving school buildings.
Unlike a traditional condition survey commissioned by a school or trust, government CDC surveys are designed to support national funding decisions rather than detailed estate management.
Historically, data collected through CDC UK surveys has been used by the DfE to support discussions with HM Treasury regarding education capital funding.
Today, the role of CDC has evolved further. The information gathered is used to:
For academy trusts, the accuracy of CDC reports can have a direct impact on future funding opportunities and investment decisions.
The CDC programme operates in phases and tranches, with surveys taking place across England over several years.
Schools and colleges are contacted directly when they enter the programme and are provided access to the CDC portal, where further information and survey documentation can be accessed.
No.
One of the most common misconceptions surrounding Condition Data Collection is that it replaces the need for a full condition survey, the DfE is clear that this is not the case.
The CDC survey is not designed to provide the level of detail required for strategic asset management or estate planning. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for a professional condition survey.
The survey has several limitations:
In line with the DfE’s School Estate Management (SEMS) guidance, schools and trusts should continue to maintain up-to-date condition surveys to support effective estate management.
The CDC programme divided schools into tranches and implementation phases. To find out which tranche your school is in you can download the lists.
Preparation is an important part of ensuring the survey accurately reflects the condition of your estate.
Schools are required to complete the online School Questionnaire at least two weeks before the site visit.
The questionnaire provides surveyors with key information about:
Providing accurate information at this stage helps surveyors understand your estate before arriving on site.
During the inspection, be involved and highlight issues. The surveys are brief and non-invasive. If you can give the CDC surveyor a summary of key issues and show them where they are, it is more likely that the report will accurately reflect your building’s condition.
This is especially true of issues that are not immediately obvious such as roofing defects that are not visible or technical/compliance issues with mechanical and electrical plant and services.
As well as using the data at a local level and collecting more detailed condition information, multi-academy trusts
will need to collate condition data for their estate portfolio in order to make strategic decisions.
The complexity of the systems you put in place will depend on the size of your MAT, future growth plans and in-
house capabilities and resource.
Your actions following receipt of your CDC data will depend on the content of the report and the provisions you already have in place to manage your buildings. Gather baseline data on condition to allow you to make informed choices about your assets. A full and up to date condition survey of the school should be available to enable planning and budgeting for future works. This survey should always include electrical and mechanical services which are one of the main areas for compliance failures and maintenance requirements.
Form an asset management plan, prioritise your specific needs aligned to your vision and budget. Align this to the maintenance requirements of the site and form an asset management plan extending a minimum of 5 years into the future.
Put in place a structure to govern and shape your plan. Ensure the plan and vision is developed and shared with the relevant stakeholders.
Review and update. Be flexible with your plan and review and amend the plan as circumstances change. Consider refreshing condition data every 5 years to ensure integrity.
While government CDC surveys are primarily designed to inform national funding decisions, the reports still provide useful insight into the condition of school buildings. When combined with professional condition surveys, asset management plans, and compliance data, CDC findings can contribute to a broader understanding of estate risk and investment priorities.
The most effective academy trusts use Condition Data Collection alongside their own condition surveys and estate strategies rather than relying on CDC in isolation.
To maximise the value of Condition Data Collection, schools and Trusts should:
Maintain Up-to-Date Condition Surveys: CDC provides high-level information. A professional condition survey remains essential for informed estate management and capital planning.
Engage Fully With the Survey Process: Share known building issues with surveyors and ensure the School Questionnaire is completed accurately and on time.
Review Reports Thoroughly: Use the feedback period to challenge any findings that do not accurately reflect the condition of your buildings.
Align CDC Findings With Estate Management Plans: Compare CDC reports against existing data, capital programmes and long-term estate objectives.
Use CDC Data to Inform Funding Strategies: Accurate condition information can strengthen investment planning and support future funding applications.
Understanding the implications can be challenging, particularly when balancing CDC findings against existing condition surveys, compliance requirements, and estate priorities.
Barker supports schools and academy trusts with condition surveys, estate strategies, asset management plans and capital investment planning, helping responsible bodies make informed decisions about their estates and future funding requirements.
