Department For Education
Eligible academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided (VA) schools can apply for capital funding from the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) in an annual bidding round.
The priority for the Department for Education (DfE) in administering the fund is to address significant condition needs that is, keeping education providers buildings safe and in good working order. This includes funding projects that address health and safety issues, building compliance, and buildings in poor condition.
The fund also supports a small number of expansion projects. These are for academies, sixth-form colleges and VA schools that can demonstrate a need to expand.
Applications for CIF 2025 to 2026
The application round for CIF 2025 to 2026 is now open.
The provides details of projects that are appropriate for funding and the assessment criteria for 2025 to 2026.
Who can apply
Schools are either part of bodies eligible fora school condition allocation (SCA)or eligible forCIF,depending on their size and type.
Local authorities, largermulti-academy trusts (MATs)and larger VAschool bodies receive directSCAto invest in priorities across the schools for which they are responsible. Smaller academy trusts, smaller VAbodies and sixth-form colleges are able to bid for CIF.
To be eligible to apply, by the start of September 2024, your institution must have been one of the following:
- a stand-alone academy
- a school in a MAT with fewer than 5 schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils, as counted in the spring 2024 census or the 2023 to 2024 individualised learner record (ILR)
- a VA school in a VA body or VA group with fewer than 5 schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils, as counted in the spring 2024 census or the 2023 to 2024 ILR
- a sixth-form college
- a school with a signed academy order as of 1 September 2024 that DfE expects to convert to a CIF-eligible responsible body by 1 April 2025
CIF-eligible schools have been invited to apply to the fund for 2025 to 2026. If your school has been invited to bid, your responsible body will not receive anySCAfunding on your behalf. If you have condition investment requirements, you should therefore apply direct for funding.
To receive directSCA in 2025 to 2026, MATs andVAbodies must meet both of these eligibility criteria:
- they must have had 5 or more open schools at the start of September 2024
- those open schools or their predecessors must have had at least 3,000 pupils, as counted in the spring 2024 census or the 2023 to 2024 ILR
Pupil count
When assessing the eligibility of special and alternative provision schools (including pupil referral units), we multiply the count by 4.5 for the purposes of determining either CIF or SCA eligibility. For example, we would count a MAT with 1,000 pupils in special schools as having 4,500 pupils.
If pupils are registered at more than one institution, we divide the count by the number of institutions at which they are registered. For example, those dual-registered at a mainstream school and a pupil referral unit would have their count divided by 2 at both institutions.
For nursery schools and sixth-form colleges, we use the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) pupils rather than the count to assess eligibility.
Loans
Academies and sixth-form colleges can take out a loan for all or part of the project costs referenced in their application to demonstrate their commitment to the scheme.
You can use the to determine the annual and total repayments that will be incurred.
Loans are offered at Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) rates of interest the same rate local authorities can access to invest in their schools. Youll make loan repayments through an abatement of the revenue funding paid to you, which will be reinvested in future capital budgets.
CIF 2024 to 2025
A list of projects funded in CIF 2024 to 2025 is available.
Urgent Capital Support
Urgent Capital Support (UCS) is specifically for urgent condition issues that pose the threat of immediate school closure.
Who can apply
You can apply if you are an academy, sixth-form college or VA school and you meet both of these conditions:
- you do not receive SCA
- you need funding assistance to address urgent building condition issues that either:
- put the safety of your pupils or staff at risk
- threaten the closure of the whole or a significant part of your school
Your application will be considered only if there is a genuine and immediate need for UCS and you cannot wait until the next round of CIF.
How funding is offered
UCS funding is offered primarily as a loan, subject to an assessment of finances. Trusts may also be required to contribute. Grant funding will be provided only in exceptional circumstances.
How to apply for UCS
Make sure that you read the guidance and application form carefully. Your application may be delayed if you do not provide the right documentation.