Funding & Bid Director
The Department for Education has published provisional capital funding allocations for 2026/27, including School Condition Allocation (SCA) and the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).
How does this compare to 2025/26?
- Overall capital funding: +£59m (+4%)
- School Condition Allocation (SCA): +£73m (+7.7%)
- Condition Improvement Fund (CIF): -£14m (-2.9%)
Key observations
The overall increase in capital funding is modest and is largely driven by growth in SCA, which provides formula-based allocations to larger responsible bodies such as multi-academy trusts.
In contrast, CIF – the main competitive funding stream for smaller trusts, standalone academies and sixth form colleges – has reduced. This continues a trend of tightening access to bid-based capital funding.
Implications for the sector
While total funding has increased slightly, the impact is likely to be limited when considered against ongoing inflation and rising construction costs.
- The reduction in CIF funding suggests that fewer projects may be approved in the 2026/27 round
- Competition for funding is expected to remain high
- Responsible bodies will need to place greater emphasis on prioritisation and long-term planning
At the same time, the increase in SCA provides a more stable funding position for those eligible, supporting ongoing condition improvement and maintenance programmes.
Looking ahead
The latest allocations reinforce the importance of effective estate planning and investment prioritisation. As funding pressures continue, ensuring that projects are clearly aligned to condition need, risk and deliverability will remain critical across the sector.
