Condition Improvement Fund (CIF)
The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) is available to eligible academies, voluntary-aided (VA) schools and sixth form colleges to support condition, and a small number of expansion projects, with the focus being to keep school and college buildings safe and in good working order.
- Opening date:
- Closing date: (Midday)
Contents
Summary
CIF is available to eligible academies, VA schools and sixth form colleges, with the primary purpose of addressing significant condition needs, while also supporting a small proportion of expansion projects.
CIF applications are accepted on an annual basis during a set application window.
The Department for Education have contacted all applicable academies, VA schools and sixth form colleges separately to inform them of their eligibility to apply for the 2026-27 round of CIF funding.
More detailed information on the CIF programme, and how to contact us, is available on GOV.UK.
Eligibility
The Department for Education will contact all applicable academies, VA schools and sixth form colleges separately to inform them of their eligibility to apply for CIF funding.
To be eligible to apply for CIF funding, you must have been one of the following at the start of September 2025:
· 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.
Please refer to the 2026-27 CIF Information for Applicants for further information around the eligibility criteria of the programme.
Objectives
The priority for the Department for Education (DfE) in administering the fund is to address significant condition needs, that is, keeping education providers’ buildings safe and in good working order. This includes funding projects that address health and safety issues, building compliance and buildings in poor condition.
The fund also supports a small number of expansion projects. These are for high performing academies, sixth-form colleges and VA schools that can demonstrate a need to expand.
Please refer to the 2026-27 CIF Information for Applicants for further information around the objectives of the programme.
Dates
The application window for CIF is open from 21 October 2025, and the deadline for receipt of applications is noon on 16 December 2025.
The deadline for new applicants to register for a CIF portal account is 12 noon on 9 December 2025.
We aim to announce the outcome of the applications in May 2026 (subject to change).
How to apply
Eligible organisations must submit their CIF application through the CIF portal.
Our guidance on GOV.UK details the evidence that must be submitted with your application.