Robert Gould, FRICS
Partner
Robert joined Barker in 2002 and is a Partner based in our Braintree office. A Fellow of th(...)
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Education Property Consultants
As education property consultants, Barker specialises in delivering tailored property solutions for education organisations. From strategic planning to project delivery, our team offers a comprehensive, end-to-end service with clear, transparent proposals. Our in-depth understanding of how education organisations are governed, financed, and operated enables us to deliver solutions that align with sector-specific compliance standards.
With decades of experience managing projects for education providers across the UK, we understand the unique challenges of working on live education sites. Our safety-first approach ensures minimal disruption, allowing your school or college to continue operating smoothly.
We are proud to be partners with some of the sector’s most influential organisations, such as the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL), the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), and The Trust Network (TTN).
A well-planned estate underpins everything in education, from day-to-day operations through to long-term growth and investment. With evolving requirements across condition, sustainability, and compliance; organisations need a clear understanding of what they have, what they need, and how to move forward.
At Barker, we simplify the process so our clients can be confident they are managing their estates effectively, whatever their setting. For schools and academy trusts, this includes alignment with the School Estate Management Standards (SEMS), while for wider education providers, our approach reflects their specific governance, funding, and operational requirements.
We develop estate strategies that reflect your priorities while aligning with wider policy and funding expectations. From identifying risks and gaps to shaping investment plans and future expansion, our team ensures your strategy is practical, evidence-based, and ready to support confident decision-making and future investment.
With funding routes and policy priorities in constant flux, those managing education estates need a clear strategy to unlock investment.
From government grants to sector-specific initiatives, including the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), opportunities exist, but navigating them can be complex.
Our education specialists work alongside schools, academies, colleges, and universities to identify and secure the most appropriate funding for estates and sustainability projects. We provide clear advice on available routes, shape strong, well-evidenced submissions where required, and help position organisations to make the most of allocated funding streams while reducing risk and internal resource pressure.
We support organisations in achieving their sustainability goals through effective energy management tailored to the education sector. Our approach focuses on reducing carbon emissions and targets while improving energy efficiency across estates.
By implementing renewable energy solutions and optimising existing systems, we help educational institutions reduce operational costs and minimise environmental impact. This includes supporting initiatives such as our work on the DfE’s Net Zero Accelerator programme.
Our team will undertake condition surveys of your school’s estate to help you identify the potential risks and the maintenance work needed to ensure good estate management. These surveys help you prioritise repairs, evaluate safety regulation compliance, and compile all of the costs involved. We’ll also advise you on the education funding options that are the most appropriate to your needs.
At Barker, we provide comprehensive statutory compliance management services to ensure your school’s estate complies with all legal requirements. Our team will ensure that your facilities adhere to all health and safety regulations and help you stay on top of all obligations to avoid costly penalties, allowing you to maintain a low operational overhead.
Barker has a wealth of experience in inclusive school design tailored to the requirements of students with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our designs create accessible environments and flexible spaces that encourage learning, well-being, and independence.
Partner
Robert joined Barker in 2002 and is a Partner based in our Braintree office. A Fellow of th(...)
See profile
Associate Partner
Formerly the Director of Estates for a leading Academy Trust, Matt brings over a decade of (...)
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Partner
Tom joined Barker in 2020 and is currently a Partner based in our London office. Tom has ov(...)
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Partner
James joined Barker in 2004 and is a Chartered Surveyor and Partner heading up the Building(...)
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Partner
Michael joined Barker in 1998 and achieved partner status in 2010. He manages a team of sur(...)
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Associate Partner
Based in our Braintree Head Office, Charlie delivers building surveying, design, specificat(...)
See profilePartner
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’ of experience in 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
Associate Partner
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
Partner
Tom joined Barker in 2020 and is currently a Partner based in our London office. Tom has over 15 years of experience in the built environment offering strategic and technical advice to a wide variety of clients across the UK.
Highly experienced in strategic estate advisory services, project management, estate planning, decarbonisation, net carbon zero strategy, and funding solutions.
Tom’s key focus is to support Barker’s clients as they transform their estates and decarbonise. He works across the education and public sectors and advises a number of sector bodies on estate management and energy reduction best practices.
Email: tdeacon@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 0203 9127812
Partner
James joined Barker in 2004 and is a Chartered Surveyor and Partner heading up the Building Surveying projects team at our Head Office.
James specialises in the design, specification, and contract administration of refurbishment and new-build schemes for the public sector, education, commercial, and private clients.
An education specialist, he provides strategic advice/management, securing funding and the delivery of projects to the educational sector.
Email: jjohnson@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648099
Partner
Michael joined Barker in 1998 and achieved partner status in 2010. He manages a team of surveyors heading up a key part of our educational sector as well as wider management duties across the practice.
An experienced chartered surveyor, Michael has a hands-on role in the design, project management and contract administration of refurbishment and new-build schemes for public sector, education, commercial and private clients.
With the majority of his professional life spent working in the education sector, Michael is an education specialist delivering projects from inception to completion including feasibility/development planning, identifying funding streams, bid writing, project management of new build and refurbishment schemes, and condition surveys/works.
Email: mmerrill@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648068
Associate Partner
Based in our Braintree Head Office, Charlie delivers building surveying, design, specification, contract administration and project management services to commercial clients and the public sector including schools, constabulary and fire services. More recently, he has been involved with workplace planning to reduce congestion as part of post-Covid requirements.
Charlie’s skills also include Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) bids and strategic School Condition Allocation (SCA) expenditure for education clients.
Email: cholmes@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648085
Share your brief with us, and we’ll help manage risk, coordination, and delivery with minimal disruption.
