What is CIF Funding?

Maintaining and improving school infrastructure is crucial for providing a conducive learning environment. In the UK, the Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) program plays a pivotal role in ensuring that academies, free schools, and sixth-form colleges can address their most pressing infrastructure needs. This blog will delve into the specifics of CIF, its purpose, eligibility, application process, and its overall impact on the educational landscape.

Purpose of Condition Improvement Funding

Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) is designed to address the critical and urgent maintenance and health and safety needs of educational facilities. Its primary aim is to ensure that school buildings are safe, secure, and conducive to learning. By providing targeted financial support, CIF helps schools maintain their infrastructure, preventing non-compliance and deterioration that could impact the quality of education and student safety.

Eligibility Criteria

CIF is specifically tailored for:

-          stand-alone academies;

-          multi-academy trusts (MATs) with fewer than 5 schools or 3,000 pupils;

-          Voluntary Aided (VA) school in a VA body or group with fewer than 5 schools or 3,000 pupils;

-          sixth-form colleges.

These institutions often require additional funding for maintenance and expansion projects, which are not covered by regular school budgets. Local authority-maintained schools, on the other hand, receive their funding through different channels and are not eligible for CIF.

Types of Projects Supported by CIF

CIF covers a wide range of projects that are critical to the functioning and safety of school buildings. These project types fall into, highest, high, medium, low and lowest priority categories as set out on the Information for Applicants Document. The projects falling into the Highest Priority Level comprise of the following:

1. Building safety matters, including, but not limited to, dangerous structures, Laingspan and Intergrid system builds.

2. Emergency & managed asbestos removal to facilitate essential works.

3. Gas safety. Where fossil fuel boilers and heating systems are proposed to be replaced with zero carbon options, these will score the highest mark, but the legal compliance and health & safety requirement with risk of school closure must still be demonstrated.

4. Electrical safety.

5. Water services (hot and cold) and drainage.

6. Ventilation/air quality and thermal comfort. Ventilation projects need to evidence how the issue may close parts of the school unless rectified. It is unlikely that a project to replace windows will be classed as ventilation.

7. Fire safety.

8. Security and safeguarding. Security fencing projects are unlikely to be successful unless a significant health & safety or safeguarding issue can be demonstrated and backed up by third party evidence, such as police reports.

Application Process

The CIF application process is rigorous and competitive, requiring schools to submit detailed submissions. The process generally follows these steps:

1. Assessment and Scope of Works: Detailed surveys are undertaken alongside H&S reports to formalise the assessment of the project and specification writing of the project is undertaken alongside architectural input as required.

2. Tender: The scope of work is then finalised alongside the school and formally issued on a sealed bid basis to four tendering contractors. Upon receipt tender analysis is undertaken.

3. Bid Preparation: The CIF bid comprises of three distinct sections, Cost, Need and Planning, each section requires very specific and specialist information to maximise points to ensure the highest possible chance of success.

4. Submission: The CIF bids are submitted through an online CIF Portal during a specified application window.

5. Evaluation: Applications are assessed based on the content of the Cost, Need and Planning sections and how they are aligned to the most recent publication of the CIF Information for Applicants document.

6. Funding Allocation: The results are typically released in Spring. Not all bids can be successful and there is an opportunity for unsuccessful applications to submit Appeals where the application feedback is factually incorrect.

Conclusion

Condition Improvement Funding is a vital resource for academies, VA schools and sixth-form colleges across the UK. By addressing critical infrastructure needs, CIF ensures that educational facilities remain safe, compliant with regulations, and capable of providing a high-quality learning environment. Through this targeted support, CIF not only enhances the physical conditions of schools but also contributes to better educational outcomes for students.

For schools facing health and safety issues and legislative non-compliance, CIF offers a lifeline, enabling them to undertake essential maintenance and improvement projects that might otherwise be unaffordable. As the educational landscape continues to evolve, programs like CIF will remain crucial in supporting the ongoing development and success of educational institutions.

RPT Consultants have a very strong track record in providing our clients with successful CIF funding. Please contact us on a no obligation basis, if you feel you would like us to carry out an inspection of your school and provide our recommendations.