Commercial Real Estate Consultancy
Eton End school, berkshire
Our client was considering the acquisition of a live, multi-building school estate and needed clear, practical insight into the condition, risks, and future liabilities of the site before proceeding. With safeguarding, operational continuity, and capital planning all critical factors, a robust pre-acquisition condition and drone survey was essential to inform the purchase decision with confidence.
Project Value
A comprehensive pre-acquisition condition assessment with clear risk, compliance, and investment profiling
Services Provided
- Pre-acquisition building condition survey across multiple structures
- Drone survey of roofs, façades, chimneys, and high-level elements
- Identification and classification of defects, deterioration, and lifecycle issues
- Consolidated reporting and strategic advice to support acquisition negotiations and future capital planning
About the Project
Eton End School is a well-established independent co-educational day school in Datchet, Berkshire, England, educating children aged approximately 2/3 months to 11 years. The school occupies a picturesque ~5.4-acre campus of semi-wooded grounds near the River Thames, blending traditional buildings with modern teaching spaces and outdoor facilities.
Current pupil numbers sit broadly in the region of circa 180–215 students, with nursery through prep classes and a campus characterised by multiple building forms and roof types.
Our instruction, from Chatsworth Schools, required a pre-acquisition condition assessment to inform a purchase decision and support negotiation strategy, driven by clarity on physical risk, compliance issues, and forward maintenance liabilities prior to exchange or completion.
Key Sectors
Education property survey | Independent schools | Due diligence | Asset acquisition
Our Approach
We delivered a bespoke, acquisition-focused survey, combining robust technical inspection with strategic clarity tailored to education sector assets:
- Due diligence with acquisition lens
Rather than a generic condition report, our work focused on issues most likely to impact value, compliance, and future capital requirements including health & safety, safeguarding risk areas, and term-time constraint considerations. - Drone-enabled inspection
High-resolution drone surveys were used to assess roof coverings, rainwater goods, parapets, chimneys, and concealed junctions, enabling thorough examination while reducing disruption to a live educational environment. - Risk categorisation
Defects were evaluated in terms of urgency, financial impact, and operational risk, enabling the client to clearly prioritise actions and budget forecasts. - Sector-aware reporting
Our analysis reflected the education sector’s operational rhythms, recognising constraints such as term dates, after-school activity scheduling, and safeguarding compliance. - Director-led delivery
Senior involvement ensured findings were not merely descriptive but translated into actionable risk profiles, cost envelopes, and strategic next steps adding commercial clarity to technical findings.
Fourth Wall’s differentiator lies in combining technical building pathology with strategic asset understanding, particularly critical for operational estates such as schools where safety, continuity, and long-term investment planning intersect.
The Result
A robust, evidence-backed understanding of condition across the school campus
Prioritised risk insights informing pre-acquisition negotiation strategy.
Clear forecasts for short, medium, and long-term maintenance budgets.
Confidence for the client to progress acquisition and planning with measurable risk clarity
At Fourth Wall Building Consultancy, we’ve reinvented building surveying, combining traditional RICS expertise with dynamic, client-focused service. We use cutting-edge proptech to deliver jargon-free, beautifully designed reports that speak directly to your needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A pre-acquisition survey is a detailed inspection undertaken before purchase to assess building condition, identify risks, and produce a risk-based cost forecast helping inform negotiation and investment decisions.
School campuses often have multiple roof forms and high-level elements that are difficult to access safely. A drone survey provides high-resolution imagery and video of roofs, parapets, chimneys, and drainage elements without disrupting school operations.
These surveys identify:
Roof and water-ingress defects
Structural issues or material degradation
Drainage and rainwater goods failures
Health & safety concerns linked to access and egress
Lifecycle forecasts impacting cost planning
Providing a documented risk profile and forecasted remedial costs gives the buyer leverage in acquisition negotiations, creating transparency around future capital requirements and reducing unforeseen liabilities.
Eton End School educates boys and girls from approximately 2/3 months to 11 years old and has circa 180–215 pupils on a ~5.4-acre campus with varied building stock.
Schools are operational estates that must be safe, compliant, and mission-critical to children’s wellbeing. Understanding condition before purchase avoids unexpected capital liabilities, supports budgeting, and informs strategic planning.
