How the Autumn Budget Affects Schools
Academies across the UK are preparing their applications to the Department for Education (DfE) for vital capital works projects ahead of the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) submission deadline of 12pm on Thursday 14th December.
The CIF offers much needed funding to schools whose resources are not able to cover large value capital projects such as fire safety works, new heating systems and roof renewal programmes. For those trusts with less than 5 schools and 3,000 pupils on roll, this is the only way to secure such projects.
On average, successful bids are worth over £400,000.00, with some reaching up to £1 million. This can bring about a remarkable transformation of a school’s estate and significantly improve the teaching and learning environment.
Those who are not successful, however, will be faced with further disruption in classrooms and the potential for school closure until funds are found to address the aged and life expired building fabric and components – with clear implications for morale, teacher and pupil retention and Ofsted ratings.
In May 2023, the number of awards was reduced by 25%, totalling 1,033. Should the DfE not secure a rise in CIF allocation from the Treasury, the number of awarded projects could fall to less than 800, a 42% reduction which would further deepen the estimated £15 billion backlog funding chasm.
For more on this subject, contact Tim Warneford on tim@warnefordconsulting.com or call 07970 466010.
Visit https://warnefordconsulting.com/ for more information.
