Schools Painting Contractor

Most school painting jobs in the UK cost between £8 and £15 per square metre for both labour and materials, but the final price depends on your building’s age, condition, and what kind of finish you need. Standard emulsion for classrooms with low foot traffic costs about £3-£5 per square metre in materials. Corridors, stairwells, and assembly halls need stronger, more expensive coatings, typically costing £7-£12 per square metre, to withstand bumps and frequent cleaning. Labour usually adds £12-£18 per hour per painter. Special finishes, such as anti-graffiti or antibacterial paints for nurseries and food areas, will add to the cost. We always visit your site first and provide a detailed written quote covering preparation, materials, and labour, so governors and site managers know exactly what to budget for.

Yes, and most schools prefer us to work during holidays. We know painting can’t happen during lessons, exams, or when safeguarding rules are in place, so we schedule most school projects for the summer, Christmas, or half-term breaks. It’s best to book early for the summer, as this is our busiest time and last-minute bookings can cost more. For urgent or smaller jobs, we can also work in the evenings, on weekends, or during INSET days to avoid disruption. During our site visit, we’ll agree on a schedule that fits your term dates, so everything is finished and dry before pupils and staff come back.

We’re based in Manchester and work across Greater Manchester, the North West, and the wider North of England. We paint schools, colleges, and universities in Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, and Yorkshire. Because we focus on this region, we know the local access rules, traffic during term time, and the types of buildings, from old red-brick primaries to new academies. This helps us work efficiently and keep prices fair. We also help multi-academy trusts and local authorities who need the same decoration standards at different sites. If your school is outside these areas, please get in touch anyway—we’re happy to see if we can help while keeping our usual standards.

Yes, we treat safeguarding as essential when working in schools, colleges, and universities. Everyone working on-site during term time has a current DBS check, and we’re happy to share this paperwork with your safeguarding lead before we start. We also prepare detailed Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) for every job, covering areas such as access, material handling, and any special safeguarding steps your school needs, such as sign-in rules or restricted areas. Our teams are trained to work quietly and respectfully in schools, knowing that trust with leaders, staff, and parents is just as important as a good paint job.

We choose paints based on how each area is used. For classrooms with less foot traffic, we use high-quality, durable emulsion that looks good without costing too much. Corridors, stairwells, halls, and other busy areas get tougher, washable finishes that can handle scuffs, bumps, and frequent cleaning. In nurseries, kitchens, or medical rooms, we can use antibacterial paints to improve hygiene, and we offer anti-graffiti coatings for exterior walls or areas that might be vandalised. We also use low-VOC or non-toxic paints everywhere to protect students and staff and to support your school’s environmental goals.

How long it takes depends on how many classrooms, corridors, and shared spaces need painting, how much prep is needed, and any access issues like high ceilings in older halls. One classroom or a small block can usually be finished in a few days. Painting a whole primary school or a larger secondary school might take from one to several weeks. Since most work happens during holidays, we plan the schedule carefully during our site visit, making sure there’s enough time for everything to dry and cure before term starts again. Bigger teams can also paint several classrooms at once, which helps finish larger projects within the holiday period.

Yes, choosing the right colours is a key part of our school painting service. Studies show that blues and greens help students feel calm and focused, making them great for classrooms and study areas. Brighter, warmer colours can make creative spaces, such as art rooms or early years settings, feel more lively. We work with school leaders to pick colours that match your school’s branding or values and are practical for busy spaces. We can also add signs, room labels, and safety notices as part of the project. This way, your school looks professional to parents and inspectors and helps pupils and staff feel comfortable and focused.

We are PDA-accredited commercial painters and have full public and employers’ liability insurance for all work in schools. Before every project, we prepare detailed Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) to make sure everything meets legal and safety standards for education. If the job involves working at height, such as on exterior walls or in high-ceilinged halls, our teams use certified equipment, including scaffolding, ladders, and safety harnesses, all handled by trained staff. We also hold accreditations such as Constructionline registration, which many local authorities and trusts require. We’re always happy to provide references from other schools, as well as our insurance and accreditation documents, to help with your checks.

We start with a free site visit to assess your buildings and identify which areas need painting, whether that’s classrooms, corridors, sports halls, or restrooms. This helps us understand what access is needed, the condition of the surfaces, and if you need special finishes like antibacterial or anti-graffiti paint. After that, we give you a detailed written quote that breaks down preparation, materials, labour, and access, so governors and finance teams know exactly where the money goes. We’re upfront about any extra costs, like DBS checks or scaffolding for older buildings, and we’ll agree on a schedule that fits your term dates before starting any work.