schoolfeasibility.co.uk

RIBA Plan of Work - school capital projects

Authored by Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Founder of Digital Signet. Working from RIBA Plan of Work 2020, RICS NRM1, BB103/BB104 and ESFA CIF 2026-27 rules.

The RIBA Plan of Work 2020 is the spine. For schools, a feasibility study almost always spans Stages 0 to 2; the build runs through Stages 3 to 5; handover and use are Stages 6 and 7.

Where the feasibility lives

Stage 0 frames the strategic question, Stage 1 builds the brief and commissions surveys, Stage 2 produces concept design and Cost Plan A. Stage 3 begins spatial coordination and full planning; this is typically not inside the feasibility scope unless the trust is procuring construction directly.

Stage gates and DfE milestones

DfE grant milestones broadly map to RIBA stage gates. CIF Section C expects Stage 1 or Stage 2 outputs. SRP follows the DfE Technical Advisor's internal stage plan, anchored to Gen Zero compliance points.

Stages 3 to 7

Stage 3 spatial coordination, Stage 4 technical design, Stage 5 manufacturing and construction, Stage 6 handover, Stage 7 use. These sit outside the feasibility brief but the feasibility programme should sketch them so the governor pack can show the wider trajectory.

Last reviewed against CIF 2026-27 round, RIBA POW 2020 and BB103/BB104 on 24 June 2026.