Client Overview
Sarah Bonnell School is a highly regarded and oversubscribed secondary school in East London, educating students aged 11–16. Renowned for its strong academic performance, positive learning culture and commitment to student development, the school places equal importance on creating a safe, well-maintained and high-performing learning environment.
Supporting hundreds of students, staff and visitors each day requires robust facilities management, effective site operations and a proactive approach to health, safety and compliance. As such, the school sought an experienced Facilities Manager capable of overseeing the day-to-day operation of the estate while supporting its long-term operational objectives.
The Challenge
Sarah Bonnell School required a Facilities Manager to take responsibility for the effective management of the school's built environment, ensuring that all facilities, services and infrastructure operated safely, efficiently and in full compliance with statutory requirements.
The successful candidate would play a key role in maintaining an environment that supports both teaching and learning, while overseeing a broad range of operational responsibilities, including:
• Estate and site management
• Planned and reactive maintenance programmes
• Health, safety and statutory compliance
• Contractor procurement and performance management
• Site security and safeguarding measures
• Facilities budgets and cost control
• Cleaning, waste and environmental services
• Site lettings and community-use operations
• Management of site-based staff and service providers
The school required a facilities professional capable of balancing operational delivery with strategic oversight, ensuring the estate remained safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
Our Approach
Understanding the Environment
Maxwell Stephens worked closely with school leadership to gain a detailed understanding of the operational requirements of the role and the unique demands of managing a busy educational environment.
Beyond technical facilities management expertise, the successful candidate would need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities, stakeholder engagement skills and a thorough understanding of compliance obligations within the education sector.
Specialist Search Process
Drawing upon our extensive Facilities Management network, we conducted a targeted search for experienced FM professionals with proven expertise in educational, public-sector and multi-site environments.
Our search focused on candidates with experience in:
• Educational facilities management
• Estate and property operations
• Health and safety compliance
• Contractor and supplier management
• Budgetary control
• Site security and safeguarding
• Building maintenance and asset management
• Team leadership and service delivery
Candidate Assessment
Candidates were evaluated against a comprehensive set of technical and behavioural competencies, including operational leadership, compliance management, stakeholder engagement and their ability to maintain high standards across complex working environments.
Particular emphasis was placed on identifying individuals who could proactively manage facilities services while supporting the school's wider objectives and culture.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully secured an outstanding Facilities Manager who brought significant experience in facilities operations, estate management and service delivery.
From the outset, the successful candidate made a positive impact across the school estate, taking ownership of maintenance activities, contractor management and site operations while ensuring full compliance with health and safety legislation and statutory obligations.
Key achievements included:
• Effective management of the school's facilities and estate operations
• Improved oversight of maintenance and contractor performance
• Continued compliance with health, safety and safeguarding requirements
• High standards across cleaning, waste and environmental services
• Efficient management of facilities budgets and operational resources
• Enhanced support for staff, students and visitors through well-managed facilities services
The appointment provided Sarah Bonnell School with a capable facilities leader who continues to support the delivery of a safe, compliant and well-maintained learning environment, ensuring the school's estate remains aligned with its educational objectives and commitment to excellence.
Maxwell Stephens
As specialist Facilities Management recruiters, Maxwell Stephens understands the critical role facilities professionals play within educational environments. From Facilities Managers and Estates Managers through to senior FM and workplace leaders, we help organisations secure the talent required to create safe, compliant and high-performing environments where people can thrive.