Here is a summary of the key funding rounds available to education clients with key dates highlighted where published and latest news on announcements on
Condition Improvement Fund
SCA
Energy Efficiency Funding
Post 16 Capacity Fund
T Level Capital Fund
Further Education Capital Transformation Fund
Urgent Capital Support
Basic Need Allocation
LCVAP
Condition Improvement Fund is an annual bidding round for eligible academies and sixth-form colleges to apply for capital funding. The priority for the fund is to address significant condition need, keeping academy and sixth-form college buildings safe and in good working order. This includes funding projects to address health and safety issues, building compliance and poor building condition.
Condition Improvement Fund also supports a small proportion of expansion projects. These are for Ofsted-rated good or outstanding academies and sixth-form colleges that need to expand their existing facilities and/or floor space. If you wish to submit a new expansion project in the next round you should be starting to prepare your bid NOW.
The DfE has updated Information for eligible academy trusts. New information has been added on submissions for Urgent Capital Support, updated guidance and application form, and a new Trust financial template.
Key dates
CIF 2023/24 Closed
Outcomes Expected Spring 2023
CIF 2024/25 Expected in Autumn 2023
2. SCA (School Condition Allocation)
Eligible bodies (MATs) receive a formulaic allocation in lieu of CIF bids.
DfE notified academy trusts of their 2022/23 allocations in April 2022. The eligibility criteria are:
For nursery schools and sixth forms, DfE use the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) pupils rather than headcount. See Condition funding methodology for 2022 to 2023 for more information.
Single academy trusts, smaller multi-academy trusts (MATs) and sixth-form colleges can apply for CIF instead of receiving an SCA. Those eligible for CIF will also be notified in the autumn.
3.Energy Efficiency Funding
Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund
The Government set up two new funds to deliver energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation measures through, Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF)
Back in November 2022, Salix announced Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). This was the second phase of the PSDS Phase 3 scheme announced in September 2021 and followed a similar process.
The fund offers the opportunity for public bodies to bid for grant funding to support replacement/upgrades to existing heating systems using low/zero carbon technologies such as air source, water source and ground source heat pumps.
Key dates
Last round (2022/23): Closed
Outcomes expected By end of January 2023
Launch of next round: Awaiting Announcement
Additional Capital Funding for Energy Efficiency in Schools
On 06 December 2022 the government made an announcement on Additional Capital Funding to help shield schools and trusts from the effects of rising energy costs. Read more about this in the Focus On section below or on our website here
Alternative funding sources
If you have energy efficiency projects and seek funding you may wish to look at alternative funding options such as Less Is More Capital or Maxxia.
4. Post-16 Capacity Fund
The Post-16 Capacity Fund was introduced by the Department for Education to help meet the predicted increase in the 16–19 year old demographic.
Funding is available to support capital projects that provide:
Criteria for eligible post-16 institutions can be found in the guidance here.
Key dates
Current round (2023/24): Closed
Outcome Notification: Spring 2023
5. TLCF (T Level Capital Fund)
T Level is a new technical study programme that will sit alongside apprenticeships within a reformed skills training system. The aim of the TLCF is to help eligible further education providers have world class facilities for the delivery of T Level qualifications. There are two elements of the fund:
Key dates:
Current round (2023/24): Open
Submission Deadline: 3 February 2023
Outcome Notification: Summer 2023
Next round expected: December 2023
You can read the TLCF guidance here
6. FECTF (Further Education Capital Transformation Fund)
The aim of the FECTF is to help eligible Further Education Colleges to upgrade their estates.
The funding applies to capital projects that address the condition need of building elements in the estate including rebuilding or remodelling, and expansion projects where the Further Education college is graded as Outstanding.
Full guidance for Further Education Capital Transformation Funding can be found here .
Key dates:
Next Round Awaiting Announcement
Urgent Capital Support (UCS) is for academies and sixth-form colleges who do not have access to a SCA and require funding assistance to address urgent building condition issues that put at risk either the safety of pupils and staff, or threatens the closure of the whole, or a significant part of the school. This funding is open throughout the year. The DfE has updated Information for eligible academy trusts. New information has been added on submissions for Urgent Capital Support, updated guidance and application form, and a new Trust financial template.
Basic Need Allocation is the funding given to local authorities each year to help them fulfil their duty to make sure there are enough school places for children in their local area.
The allocations announced in 2021 will allow local authorities to create the new school places they need by September 2023.
All local authorities have also been allocated additional capital funding to invest in provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities through the special provision capital fund.
9. LCVAP (Local Control Voluntary Aided Programme)
Voluntary-aided (VA) schools are maintained schools and often, but not always, have a religious character. These schools used to be eligible for capital funding through the LCVAP process. The government has now announced its intention to replace this scheme with the School Condition Allocation (SCA) system already in place for multi academy trust bodies. See section 2 above for key announcements and dates.
10. Bid Writing
We recommend academies and trusts start preparing for the next rounds of bidding as soon as possible. Please speak to Barker if you wish to discuss your projects or opportunities for funding. We have a knowledgeable team of professional advisors including RICS chartered surveyors and fully qualified APMP bid writers who can help compile an extensive bid meeting the guidance criteria to gain funding.