Created: 7th October, 2026
Formerly the Director of Estates for a leading Academy Trust, Matt brings over a decade of ‘client-side’ experience in property management and capital project delivery.
He has over 14 years of experience working at the forefront of Education Estates management. Working with staff and colleagues across the Trust at the “C-Suite” level to the operational Facility Management teams. He has successfully developed and established a variety of strategic and tactical approaches to the management and operation of the portfolio of schools to provide property assurance, capital works programmes and business resilience.
Email: misherwood@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 0121 2892572
For many Academy Trusts, PFI expiry may feel like a distant contractual milestone. In reality, it is one of the most significant estates and operational transitions a Trust may face.
The Trusts that navigate expiry successfully will be those that recognise early in the process PFI expiry is not just about handing back buildings – it’s about inheriting responsibility for assets, information, services, systems and long-term investment decisions.
Barker recently hosted a thought leadership workshop which brought together Academy Trust leaders, PFI specialists Thomson FM and VWV to unravel the challenges of the “PFI End-Game”.
In this article we walk through the main takeaways and identify key actions Responsible Bodies can take to manage their way through this complex process.
When a PFI contract expires, three major changes happen simultaneously:
This means Trusts inherit far more than school buildings as part of the handover, typically:
So, a more useful question than “When does our PFI expire?” is:
“What are we taking on, and are we ready to manage it?”
National guidance promotes a structured 7-, 5- and 3-year approach to preparing for PFI expiry. The principle is straightforward:
Waiting for the final condition survey often reduces options and increases costs. By identifying issues early, Trusts gain the opportunity to resolve them while contractual remedies remain available – and are likely to encounter fewer surprises along the way.
Experience from completed PFI projects shows similar themes emerging time and again:
Perhaps the greatest concern is the risk of paying twice: once through historic PFI payments and again after expiry if the required maintenance and lifecycle works have not been delivered.
PFI expiry is not only an asset hand-back exercise – it’s also a service transition programme.
Trusts must determine how maintenance, compliance, cleaning, grounds maintenance, security, helpdesk services and other FM functions will operate after expiry. The options are typically…:
…but there is no universal answer. The right approach depends on the Trust’s strategic objectives, internal capability, appetite for risk and desired level of control.
The ultimate measure of success is simple: the first day after expiry should feel operationally uneventful to schools, staff and pupils.
PFI arrangements can involve complex relationships between Trusts, local authorities, contractors and FM providers, meaning strong governance is essential.
Trust boards should take steps to understand:
Without clear ownership and accountability, Trusts will miss important opportunities to protect value and enforce contractual rights.
While PFI expiry brings risk, it also creates a rare opportunity.
Trusts can use this time to reassess service delivery, improve asset information, strengthen estates governance and develop operating models that reflect today’s educational priorities rather than decisions made 25 or 30 years ago.
The most successful Trusts will view PFI expiry not as an end point, but as the start of a new phase in estate stewardship. Those that begin planning early will be best placed to secure a smooth hand-back, maintain operational resilience and create a stronger foundation for the next generation of estate management.
If you need help navigating an upcoming PFI expiry, speak to Barker today.
