Created: 26th May, 2026
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced its allocation of the Condition Improvement Fund 2026/27 round, with a total funding of just under £450 million for various school condition projects being confirmed.
It is yet another successful year of CIF bids for Barker. Once again, we have helped secure a significant proportion of the total funding allocation for our clients.
Successful projects range from a £68,000 roofing project to a £3.2M electrical project.
The DfE received funding requests for 2,525 projects for this year’s round. A total of £450 million for 813 projects across 684 academies and sixth-form colleges has been allocated.
James Johnson, Partner and Head of Funding Bids, said:
“Our team continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting clients by delivering high-quality Condition Improvement Fund bids, helping to secure funding for urgent and essential capital works across the school estate.
With a busy period ahead, we look forward to collaborating closely with successful applicants to ensure these projects are delivered efficiently and effectively.”
With the limited funding available and the large number of applications received, unfortunately, not all projects were successful. Unsuccessful applicants will be able to appeal the CIF 26/27 outcome via the portal before the deadline of 12th June.
Our CIF consultants at Barker will be able to support those applicants looking to appeal their CIF bids.
Barker maintains an outstanding track record of CIF submissions with sector-leading success rates.
We fully support both schools and multi-academy trusts beyond the bid submissions, all the way through project planning, procurement, and project delivery to enrich teaching and learning environments.
Want to appeal a CIF bid or prepare for the next round?
* As a reminder, in line with the new education estates standards, the Condition Improvement Fund will be replaced by a new capital maintenance allocation model from autumn 2028. Here is what you need to know about CIF ending.
