Barker has historically written Condition Improvement Fund bids for Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust (OLICAT). Following their transition to SCA, Barker has continued to work closely with the trust to modernise the school estates.
Barker were instructed to carry out condition surveys across the schools to help the Trust understand the overall condition of their estates and the annual funding required to address various building defects and services approaching the end of their life.
Using the EO Portal, Barker and OLICAT were able to assess the types of projects categorised as most critical for the schools to function in line with statutory guidance and propose a prioritised programme of works. By evaluating project types across all schools, Barker and the Trust could tender packages of works to achieve economies of scale and ensure the best value for money.
Acting as an estates advisor, Barker have established a close working relationship with OLICAT. In addition to project management, the team have worked closely with the operations department to strategically review the estate, and identify efficiencies with building usage whilst ensuring the schools continue to offer a fantastic learning environment.
When OLICAT first transitioned from CIF to SCA funding, the estates and operations team had a general understanding of the various building conditions but lacked the detailed data needed to prioritise work and ensure that funding was allocated to the most urgent items in the most cost-efficient manner.
Barker conducted condition surveys across all OLICAT schools to gather specific building and services data using the DfE condition grading scores. These surveys enabled the trust to develop a 5-year asset management plan, identifying which schools required the most work and which projects were most urgent.
By using the EO Portal, the Trust can update condition data after project completion, ensuring they maintain a current and accurate understanding of their estate.
Over the years Barker’s team have delivered projects from inception and brief stage, through to handover and close out. Barker have worked closely with the Trust and the schools to help minimise disruption to education while achieving positive project outcomes. Projects have included:
• Fire doors and fire safety works.
• Window replacements.
• Heating replacements including heat generation, pipework and emitters.
• Safeguarding upgrades.
• Roofing repairs and replacements.
• Toilet remodelling and refurbishments.
• Drainage works.
• Sports hall refurbishments.
• Resurfacing works.
• Asbestos removals.
• LED lighting replacement leading to reduced energy consumption and lower energy bills.
“Barker’s teamwork-driven approach ensures compliance, maximises value, and boosts impact across our academies. Their deep understanding of funding policies has allowed us to implement suitable and cost-effective estate solutions, even under tight financial constraints. Both Barker and the Trust believe that utilising estates data helps us make informed decisions and ensures our spending is aligned with our needs. Moreover, their services are friendly and meticulous.”