Capital funding: condition improvement fund

Get to grips with everything you need to know about the condition improvement fund (CIF). Find out if you're eligible, what it can cover and how much you could get.

Last reviewed on 16 November 2023
See updates
School types: Academy · School phases: All
Ref: 8540
Contents
  1. Who is the condition improvement fund (CIF) for?
  2. What is it for?
  3. How much could we get?
  4. How do we apply?
  5. When is the deadline?
  6. How is the application assessed?
  7. You don't need to apply for RAAC-related projects

Who is the condition improvement fund (CIF) for?

You must have been 1 of the following at the start of September 2023:

  • Single academy trust ("stand-alone" academy)
  • Academy in a multi-academy trust (MAT) with:
    • Fewer than 5 academies, or
    • 5 or more academies but fewer than 3,000 pupils 
  • Voluntary-aided (VA) school in a VA body or group with:
    • Fewer than 5 schools, or
    • 5 or more schools but fewer than 3,000 pupils
  • Sixth-form college
  • School with a signed academy order as of 1 September 2023, that is expected to convert to a CIF-eligible trust by 1 April 2024

Pupil and academy numbers are as counted in the spring 2023 census or 2022/23 individualised learner record.

Note: pupil numbers for special and alternative provision schools (including pupil referral units) are multiplied by 4.5.

Too big for the CIF? You'll receive school condition allocations instead.

What is it for?

Condition projects – to improve the