LocatED, the Department for Education’s in-house property company, will move into the DfE by April 2026.
The announcement follows a Cabinet Office review of all arm’s-length bodies across government started earlier this year, exploring whether any should be closed or merged.
The DfE said today that the “unified team” would be better able to “identify opportunities, streamline processes and deliver more coherent support to schools, academy trusts, local authorities and other education providers requiring specialist property guidance”.
LocatED was established in 2017. In August this year, Tes reported that the company, which secures sites for free schools and provides property advice to ministers, would operate until at least 31 March 2026 after its business case was approved by the Treasury, according to the latest accounts.
The body, which received more than £9 million in funding last year, was previously granted an extension in 2022 until 31 March 2025.
LocatED employs 54 people and is led by chief executive Lara Newman, who last year was paid between £220,000 and £225,000, as well as a £40,000 bonus.
Ms Newman is also leading the review into curriculum resources quango Oak National Academy, which was originally due to report back last September, then “early 2025”, but has still not published its report.
Tes understands that Ms Newman will remain as chief executive of LocatED until April 2026, with a focus on ensuring a smooth transition into the DfE, and that all LocatED staff will be offered roles in the DfE. Tes asked about Ms Newman’s salary but the DfE would not comment.
The body’s accounts show that it achieved all key performance indicators in 2024-25, with four “exceptional” ratings and one deemed “acceptable”.
‘Seamless continuity’
DfE permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood said: “LocatED will bring commercial property expertise into the heart of the Department for Education to help us manage and transform the education estate, make it sustainable, give great value to the taxpayer, and support excellent outcomes for children and young people.”
Ms Newman said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved since our establishment in 2017. Our success has been built on the specialist expertise of our team, our can-do approach to problem-solving, and the strong relationships we’ve developed with clients, partners and stakeholders.”
She added: “Throughout this transition, our clients and partners can expect the same high-quality service and expertise they’ve come to rely on. Both organisations will work closely together to ensure seamless continuity of all services and projects throughout the transition period.”
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