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Trust capacity fund: who's eligible and how to apply

The fund is primarily for trusts to take on underperforming schools in areas of higher need. Find out if you're eligible, how much funding you could get and how to apply.

Updated
on 23 April 2024See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 43830
Contents
  1. Who's eligible?
  2. What the funding covers
  3. What you can spend it on
  4. Apply for the fund

This article is based on the DfE's trust capacity fund (TCaF) guidance for 2023 to 2025.

Who's eligible?

To be eligible for this window of TCaF, you must:

  • Be an academy trust or local authority-maintained school in England
  • Be considered in good financial health by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). At the minimum, you must not have an open financial notice to improve
  • Have an eligible growth project that's approved by a regional director from 1 January 2024

What the funding covers

Strand Purpose Amount available A1 Projects in which your trust will take on or form from at least 5 additional schools, 1 of which must be 'inadequate' or 'requires improvement' and in 1 of the education investment areas (EIAs) £50,000 to £750,000 A2 Projects in which your trust will take on at least 1 additional 'inadequate' or 'requires improvement' school in 1 of the EIAs £50,000 to £500,00 B Projects in which your

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