Condition Improvement Funding
What is the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF)?
It’s an annual bidding round for eligible academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary aided (VA) schools to apply for capital funding.
The Fund’s priority is to address significant condition need, keeping school and college buildings safe and in good working order. This includes funding projects to address health and safety issues, building compliance and poor building condition.
CIF also supports a small number of expansion projects. These are for academies, sixth-form colleges and VA schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted that need to expand.
What makes a successful application?
Click the arrows to see what successful academies do.
Top tips
- Start preparing early – we recommend spring or early summertime
- Bids are favoured that demonstrate strong governance and good financial management – we recommend academies submit their accounts to the Department for Education on time as that will be taken into account
- Consider how you can strengthen the project - you may score more highly if you can make a contribution to the total project cost or show other investment in your estate, such as receiving a Salix loan
- Completing a bid and managing the work that a successful bid creates can be stressful - use education property experts to help you to prepare your application and to deliver the works
- If you’re unsuccessful, ask for feedback so you know where to improve next time.
Learn more
Entrust has helped numerous academies to submit successful bids. We’re a multi-disciplinary business and have extensive experience in architectural design, construction, project management, compliance, asset management and energy management.
Over the last few years, we’ve secured more than £33m in condition improvement funding, delivering 82 CIF projects.
Get in touch to find out how we can help your school.
CIF Case Study - Leasowes Primary School
Make an Enquiry
Contact us to enquire about our servicesOr, call us on 0333 300 1900