Here is a summary of the key funding rounds available to education clients with key dates highlighted where published and latest news on LCSF, CIF and T levels announcements.
1. Energy Efficiency Funding
Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund
Last year the Government announced that the public sector could bid for 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)
Phase 2 of the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund was announced on 21 July. The funding is for advice to develop energy strategies and decarbonisation plans. It is not funding for capital works such as LED lighting and Solar PV Panels. The application window for Academies and Trusts opens on 13 September. And it closes as soon as the funding threshold is reached. We know from past LCSF round that this is likely to be within 48 hours. Therefore, it is imperative that you have your bid ready as soon as the application round opens.
Key Dates
Application Window Opens – 13 September 2021
Closes as soon as funding threshold is reached
Salix/SEEF
Salix, in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE), works to reduce energy usage in individual academies, sixth form colleges, free schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) across England. Through the installation of energy efficient technologies, academies can lower energy bills and create a more comfortable learning environment.
The Salix Energy Efficiency Fund (SEEF) is available for all individual academies, academy sixth forms, free schools and those in Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs).
Key dates:
Current round (2020/21): Closed
Last Funding announcement: March 2021
Projects to be completed by: December 2021
Launch of next round (2021/22): Expected Autumn 2021
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.
2. CIF (Condition Improvement Fund)
The 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.
The 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 are hoping 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.
CIF 2021/22 outcomes were announced in June. The next round is expected to be announced in October 2021.
Key dates
CIF 2021/22 round is now closed Outcomes announced in June 2021
CIF 2022/23 round expected to be announced in October 2021
3. SCA (School Condition Allocations)
Eligible bodies (MATs) receive a formulaic allocation in lieu of CIF bids.
DfE notified academy trusts of their 2021/22 allocations on 27th April 2021.
The eligibility criteria are:
- Trusts with 5 or more open academies at the start of September 2019.
- Those open academies (or their predecessor schools) had at least 3,000 pupils counted in the spring 2019 census.
For nursery schools and sixth forms, DfE use the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) pupils rather than headcount. See Condition funding methodology for 2021 to 2022 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.
4. TLCF (T Level Capital Fund)
T Levels are new technical study programmes 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:
• Specialist equipment allocation (SEA)
• Buildings and facilities improvement grant (BFIG)
Key dates:
Current round (2020/21): Closed
Funding announcement: July 2021
Next round expected: January 2022
You can read the guidance for TLCF here
5. 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:
2020/21 Stage 1 Application: Closed
FE colleges notified of outcome: 14 May 2021
Stage 2 submission deadline: 30 July 2021
Stage 2 FE colleges notified of outcome: Week commencing 27 September 2021
6. SSEF (Selective Schools Expansion Fund)
The Selective Schools Expansion Fund (SSEF) is available to selective schools that demonstrate how they will attract more disadvantaged pupils.
Key dates:
Current round (2020/21): Closed
Funding announcement: 14th Feb 2020. 6 out of 25 applications were funded
Deadline for next round: None published
7. UCS (Urgent Capital Support)
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.
8. Basic Need
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 2020 will allow local authorities to create the new school places they need by September 2022.
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. Strategic school improvement fund – emergency funding
In the event of an emergency, DfE will consider applications to the Strategic School Improvement Fund – emergency funding to support an individual school, as opposed to a group of schools, if the supported school meets the eligibility criteria for emergency funding referenced on this page
11. Trust Capital Fund
The Trust Capacity Fund (TCaF) is a competitive grant fund that will award up to £24 million over the 2021-22 financial year to help trusts develop their capacity to grow. It has a particular focus on supporting strong trusts, and strong schools forming trusts, to take on underperforming schools in areas of higher need. There are two elements to this funding
A: For projects in which your trust will take on at least one additional inadequate or requires improvement school
B: For all other trust capacity building projects
Key dates:
Application deadline has been extended to 17 December 2021.
12. 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.
