The Next Round of CIF is Here (2025/26)
It is confirmed – the next round of the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) has been announced!
CIF (Condition Improvement Fund) offers a lifeline for upgrading and maintaining educational facilities – but with extreme competition and only a third of applications being funded each year, standing out is crucial. Success hinges on crafting proposals that tackle urgent improvements while following the CIF guidance.
What is CIF?
CIF is a capital fund granted to educational establishments looking to resolve condition-based issues on the school estate, and in lesser numbers, those schools looking to expand their estate. It must be stressed that these are very unusual. This may take the form of a rewiring project, the installation of a new, more energy-efficient boiler, emergency asbestos removal, re-roofing or any other number of things.
Who can apply for CIF?
Depending on the size and type of institution, schools can be eligible of CIF, in accordance with the CIF guidance, to apply for the CIF funding, you must either be:
- A stand-alone academy.
- A school in a multi-academy trust (MAT) with fewer than five schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils as counted in the Spring 2024 census or 2023/24 Individualised Learner Record (ILR) (details of how pupils are counted for eligibility purposes are provided below).
- A Voluntary Aided (VA) school in a VA body or VA group with fewer than five schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils as counted in the Spring 2024 census or 2023/24 ILR.
- A sixth-form college.
- A school with a signed academy order as of 1 September 2024 that the department expects will convert to a CIF-eligible responsible body by 1 April 2025.
What are the key dates for CIF 2025/26?
- Deadline for new applicants to register for a CIF portal account: 12 noon on Tuesday 10th December 2024
- Deadline for applicants to submit applications with all the supporting documentations: Tuesday 12 noon on 17th December 2024
- Applicants to be notified of the CIF outcome: May 2025 (subject to change by the DFE)
What projects are funded by CIF?
As previously stated, CIF can fund a variety of projects. This includes providing funds for initiatives that deal with building compliance, health and safety concerns, and dilapidated structures. A smaller number of expansion projects are also supported each year.
Project thresholds for CIF 2025-26
Primary and special schools:
- Primary and special schools must have a minimum project funding requirement of £20,000.00. £4,000,000.00 is the maximum project funding threshold.
Secondary schools, all-through schools and sixth-form colleges:
- For secondary schools, all-through schools, and sixth-form colleges, the minimum project funding is £50,000.00. £4,000,000.00 is the maximum project threshold.
Book a consultation with us today:
Related CIF projects:
Ryedene School Demountable Replacement
Whitmore Primary School – Emergency Boiler Replacement
