The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) is an annual bidding round for eligible academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided (VA) schools to apply for capital funding.
CIF has consistently provided a significant amount of aid and support to academies, sixth-form colleges, and VA schools to improve their facilities and address significant condition needs.
The last funding round will provide funding of £456 million for 1,033 projects at 859 academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary aided schools.
Find out more about the CIF 2023-24 outcome.
Read the general guidance and information for applicants to help with submission.
Key dates for the CIF 2024-25 application round:
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19 October 2023 – Launch of CIF 2024-25: Information for applicants published and online application window opens
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Midday, 7 December 2023 – Deadline for new applicants to register an account
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Midday, 14 December 2023 – Deadline for applicants to submit applications with all supporting documents
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May 2023 (subject to change) – Applicants notified of the outcome
Who can apply for CIF?
To be eligible to apply for CIF funding, you must have been one of the following at the start of September 2023:
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Stand-alone academy
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School in a multi-academy trust (MAT) with fewer than 5 schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils as counted in the Spring 2023 census or 2022/23
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Individualised Learner Record (ILR) (details of how pupils are counted for eligibility purposes are provided below)
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Voluntary Aided (VA) school in a VA body or VA group with fewer than 5 schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils as counted in the Spring 2023 census or 2022/23 ILR
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Sixth-form college
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School with a signed academy order as of 1 September 2023 that the department expects will convert to a CIF-eligible responsible body by 1 April 2024
What’s new for CIF 2024-25
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Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)
CIF applications for RAAC mitigations or RAAC roof replacements are not required. The DfE will fund both immediate and long-term costs relating to the mitigation/removal of RAAC, find out more here.
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Expansion project disqualification
The purpose of expansion projects is to create additional places or address existing overcrowding in schools where the existing number of pupils on roll is greater than capacity. Therefore, expansion applications that increase capacity by less than 10% for an added places project, or where the existing number on roll is less than 10% over the capacity for an overcrowding project, will be disqualified. Please see the capacity constraints section of the guidance for more information.
For further information and full details about CIF bidding, visit the Condition Improvement Fund guide here.
Need support with your CIF bid application?
Our CIF bid partners can help you secure the funding you need to make significant improvements to your school, academy, or sixth-form college on a no win, no fee basis!
With over 10 years of experience in CIF bids coupled with our education finance expertise, we know what it takes to create a winning bid.
Find out more here or get in touch.
