School grounds are a vital part of the overall learning environment and all schools have a duty to provide functional and appealing spaces for students, staff and visitors. Beyond encouraging learning and making the school look welcoming, the upkeep of school grounds is also critical from a safety and duty of care perspective. This means that school grounds maintenance is one of the most important tasks for those involved in the management of schools.
However, despite the importance of school grounds maintenance, there is often some level of uncertainty when it comes to who is actually responsible for the management of this process. Decisions may be made by someone who does not carry out the all-important day-to-day maintenance tasks. However, with clear rules and regulations to abide by, it is crucial that all parties involved are on the same page. For this reason, we have created this short guide to help you understand who is responsible for the maintenance of school grounds.
Defining Responsibility
Responsibility for school grounds maintenance typically falls on the school’s governing body, local authority, or academy trust, depending on the type of school. While the day-to-day upkeep of critical grounds maintenance tasks may be delegated to individual facilities managers, caretakers, or external school grounds maintenance companies, the duty to delegate and ultimate responsibility for completion to the correct standards lies with those overseeing the school’s operations and budget allocation.
For local authority-maintained schools, the responsibility is typically shared between the school and the local council with funding and specific duties outlined in service-level agreements. In contrast, academies manage their own grounds maintenance through their governing bodies and trusts. Typically, academy trust management will then appoint a private contractor to maintain the school grounds on an ongoing basis, though it is not uncommon for local councils to work with private contractors too to ensure the standards of maintenance completed are as high as they should be.
Key Responsibilities In School Grounds Maintenance
Before holding a facilities manager or external contractor accountable for specific school grounds maintenance tasks, the decision makers – those with overarching responsibility for school grounds maintenance – should be mindful that there are a number of key regulations and standards which must be adhered to:
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – Requires schools to provide a safe environment for staff, pupils and visitors and covers risks related to outdoor spaces such as playgrounds and sports pitches.
- The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 & 1984 – Imposes a duty of care on those responsible for premises including school grounds to ensure they are reasonably safe for visitors.
- The School Premises Regulations 2012 – Rules which include the requirement for schools to provide adequate outdoor spaces for pupils to play outside and partake in the Physical Education curriculum.
- BS EN 1176 – The British Standard that stipulates that playground equipment must be suitably inspected and maintained and is therefore particularly relevant for schools with designated playground spaces.
You can read more about how these rules can be met in our essential school grounds maintenance checklist. However, some of the most essential tasks which can be delegated to the relevant professionals include:
- The upkeep of sports pitches and fields, including grass cutting, line marking and drainage management.
- The inspection of playgrounds and outdoor equipment, with any hazards removed from use and addressed promptly.
- The maintenance of pathways, fencing and general infrastructure, including the maintenance of perimeter fencing and any required repairs to cracked or uneven pathways.
- The regular management of any trees on the school grounds, including regular tree surveys along with any necessary tree pruning or tree removal.
The Importance Of Proactive School Grounds Maintenance
With all of the tasks outlined in this article, the most important thing to bear in mind is that proactive maintenance is key to ensuring that the right standards are upheld and that relevant regulations are adhered to at all times. By acting proactively, those responsible for the maintenance of school grounds can address any potential risks before they become significant problems and have confidence that the school is fully compliant with health and safety laws.
If you are responsible for the maintenance of school grounds within either a local authority or academy setting, we can help you navigate your duties in the most effective way. At Arborcure, our experienced team works with a range of schools and trusts across Devon and Cornwall. With expertise spanning sports pitch maintenance to tree surgery, we are best equipped to conduct regular and effective school grounds maintenance on your behalf and create a safe and inspiring learning environment.
Whether you need help with a specific aspect of school grounds maintenance or would like to work alongside us to create a tailored schedule that works for your school or trust, do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.
