07 April 2017
The Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) – formerly the EFA - have recently announced the outcome of the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) for 2017 to 2018.
Following on from our previous blog, outlining what the CIF is and how to apply, we are delighted to see that many of our schools have been successful in their applications this year.
When reviewing which projects had been approved by the ESFA, I was pleasantly surprised to see the wide and varied array of schemes; ranging from electrical repairs right through to extensions to classrooms and dining halls.
The most common projects did seem to fit into one of four main categories:
- Roof repairs or replacements
- Window repairs or replacements
- Heating and boiler repairs and replacements
- Health and safety items including fire prevention
Again this year, with the age of many school buildings, it’s unsurprising to see that there remain a number of asbestos removal bids. I would hope that these bids start to become few and far between.
What next?
For those who were successful, further details will be published during the week commencing 24 April and you will be required to log on to the CIF Portal by 2 May to:
- Accept the terms and conditions
- Check the payment profile
- Check the contact information
For those who were unsuccessful this time around, information on your project score and feedback will also be published on the CIF portal week commencing 24 April.
Record number of applications
This year saw a record number of applications and funding levels for the CIF, with over 3800 applications received (compared to 3,500 in 2017) and 1,435 projects funded, amounting to £466 million. In spite of the increased level of applications, the percentage of successful bids remained roughly in line with previous years, with the total funding level increased by £31 million.
It will be interesting to see how much of the extra £216 million for school’s maintenance mentioned in the 2017 Spring Budget will be earmarked for the CIF next year and if this will have any effect on the number of bids approved.
If you would like more information about the CIF and the application process, or have any academy school related questions, please contact me or your local UHY academy expert.
Alternatively, to read more academy schools blogs click here.
