The condition improvement fund (CIF) The condition improvement fund (CIF) is capital funding which keeps school and college buildings in good working order or supports a specific expansion projects that meet the criteria. Applications are now open for funding for 2026 to 2027. You must apply by midday on 16 December 2025. Funding is available for the following types of school:
- Stand-alone academy.
- School in a multi-academy trust (MAT) with fewer than five schools or fewer than
3,000 pupils as counted in the Spring 2025 census or 2024/25 Individualised
Learner Record (ILR) (details of how pupils are counted for eligibility purposes are
provided below). - Voluntary Aided (VA) school in a VA body or VA group with fewer than five
schools or fewer than 3,000 pupils as counted in the Spring 2025 census or
2024/25 ILR. - Sixth-form college.
- School with a signed academy order as of 1 September 2025 that the department
expects will convert to a CIF-eligible responsible body by 1 April 2026.
dsga.org.uk 