Ensuring proper estate management is crucial for any educational institution. Effective management encompasses various aspects, from maintaining the physical structures to ensuring compliance with regulations and safety standards.

WHAT MAKES FOR GOOD ESTATE MANAGEMENT (GEMS)?

Good estate management is the cornerstone of fostering a conducive, safe, and compliant

learning environment. Regular checks for statutory compliance, including tasks such as asbestos management, fire risk assessments, and insurance inspections, are imperative. Swift action must be taken to address any shortcomings discovered during these checks.

Underfunding poses a significant risk to estate upkeep, potentially resulting in the deterioration of mechanical and electrical services, which could ultimately force school closures. Thus, sufficient funding must be allocated to building maintenance to avert such scenarios.

Crafting and executing an effective estate management strategy not only ensures the upkeep of your property and resources but also prioritizes safety. As seasoned Academy Consultants, we specialize in partnering with academies to oversee their estates, ensuring optimal value for money.

SETTING OBJECTIVES FOR YOUR ESTATE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Before embarking on an estate management plan, it’s paramount to delineate your objectives. Identifying the purpose and goals of the plan is fundamental to tailoring it to your school’s specific needs. Whether it’s enhancing security measures, boosting efficiency, or minimizing costs, clarifying these objectives allows for the formulation of targeted strategies.

ASSESSING YOUR CURRENT ESTATE CONDITION AND REQUIREMENTS

A comprehensive understanding of your current estate condition and requirements is indispensable for devising an effective management plan. Conducting a thorough survey of your school grounds enables us to pinpoint areas requiring attention, be it upgrading safety features or addressing structural issues. By assessing building conditions, necessary repairs, and potential enhancements, we can devise a comprehensive plan that aligns with your budgetary constraints.

ANALYSING FUNDING SOURCES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS

Once the state of school facilities is evaluated, attention shifts to securing funding for your management plan. Exploring avenues such as School Condition Allocation Funding (SCA), Condition Improvement Funding (CIF), and The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) tailored to educational institutions is paramount. Leveraging our expertise in navigating funding processes and requirements ensures your plan meets all necessary criteria. Moreover, we can strategize for ongoing maintenance to facilitate timely improvements.

IDENTIFYING RISKS AND FORMULATING MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Assessing potential risks is pivotal in crafting a robust estate management plan. This involves identifying hazards that may jeopardize student safety and learning, as well as financial liabilities associated with maintenance and repair. Mitigation strategies encompass regular equipment maintenance, investing in safety technologies, and implementing policies to safeguard stakeholders. Additionally, initiatives to mitigate environmental impact and reduce energy consumption yield long-term cost savings.

For guidance and support on effective estate management, reach out to us.

The Importance of Funding Eligibility for Schools

Schools have a vital role in preparing the next generation for the future and they need adequate funding to create the best learning environments. A quality education depends not only on qualified teachers and a good curriculum but also on the physical environment. A well-kept estate that has everything needed to deliver engaging lessons can improve the student experience. It can affect things like focus and motivation as well as overall well-being.

However, the government announcement that schools will receive an extra £2 billion of revenue funding in 2023-24 and the same again in 2024-25, may not be enough to cover the actual needs of many schools. Many schools, academies, colleges and universities across the UK rely on additional funding to maintain their estates.

Thankfully, there are several capital funding streams that schools can access. But, many estate management teams are either unaware of key funding rounds or unsure whether they qualify for them. This lack of awareness can result in missed opportunities and make it harder to maintain learning environments.

Learning more about the available funding streams can help education institutions make the most of the resources available to them and continue to provide supportive spaces for students.

How to Secure Funding for Your Education Projects

If you work in the education sector, you know how important it is to have adequate funding for your maintenance, improvement or expansion projects. However, finding and applying for the right funding can be challenging and time-consuming. That’s why at Help for Schools, we offer a comprehensive service to help you navigate the complex and changing funding landscape. We keep you updated on the latest funding opportunities and help you prepare successful bids for the funding streams that match your needs and goals. You can sign up for our Education Estates Newsletter here to get regular updates on the funding options available for schools, academies, colleges and universities in the UK.

Some of the key funding streams that you should be aware of are:

• Condition Improvement Fund: This fund is aimed at improving the condition and safety of school buildings and facilities, as well as supporting energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects.
• School Condition Allocation: This fund is allocated to local authorities, large multi-academy trusts and dioceses to address priority maintenance issues in their schools.
• Energy Efficiency Funding: This fund is available for schools to implement energy efficiency measures that reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions and energy bills.
• Post 16 Capacity Fund: This fund is designed to support the delivery of high-quality courses for 16 to 19 year olds, by increasing the capacity and condition of existing buildings or creating new spaces.
• T Level Capital Fund: This fund is intended to support the introduction of new technical qualifications called T Levels, by enhancing the facilities and equipment of providers.
• Further Education Capital Transformation Fund: This fund is aimed at transforming the estate of further education colleges and designated institutions, by improving the quality and efficiency of their buildings and facilities.
• Urgent Capital Support: This fund is available for schools and colleges that face urgent health and safety issues, such as fire safety, asbestos or structural problems.
• Local Control Voluntary Aided Programme (LCVAP): This fund is allocated to dioceses to address condition needs in voluntary aided schools, such as roofing, heating or electrical works.
• Basic Need: This fund is provided to local authorities to ensure there are enough school places for children in their area, by creating new schools or expanding existing ones.

Each funding stream has its own eligibility criteria and application process, which means that not every education institution can apply for every type of funding. That’s why it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your estate’s needs and goals, as well as the funding options that are most suitable for your situation.

At Help for Schools, we have a team of experts who can help you with every aspect of securing funding for your education projects. We can assess your estate’s condition and potential, identify the best funding solutions, prepare robust bids and support you throughout the delivery of your projects. We have a proven track record of helping education institutions secure millions of pounds in funding and achieve their estate aspirations. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.

If you want to find out which projects are supported by government funding

You can visit the official website of the government. There, you can access information about the different funding rounds and the kinds of projects that they fund. Each funding program has its own guidelines and criteria that specify the projects that can apply.

However, finding and applying for additional funding can be challenging and time-consuming. You might benefit from talking to a funding expert who can help you identify the most suitable funding options for your projects.

One of the challenges that many educational institutions face is the lack of adequate funding

There are some options that you can explore to increase your budget, besides applying for the various grants and subsidies that the government offers. For example, you could organize fundraising events or rent out your facilities when they are not in use. However, this is a widespread issue that affects the whole education sector and many have to find alternative sources of income to cover basic expenses.

Can Schools access funding for solar panels?

Schools can access various funding sources for energy efficiency projects, such as solar panels. These projects can help schools reduce their carbon emissions and contribute to the UK’s net zero goal by 2050. There is a growing demand for all sectors to become more environmentally friendly, and schools can benefit from the increased funding opportunities for energy efficiency improvements

Energy efficiency projects can also lower the utility bills of schools and make their estates more sustainable. It is worthwhile to explore the different options for energy-efficiency funding that are available. At Help for Schools, we can help you with this and provide you with expert advice and guidance.

Funding for technology

There are different ways to obtain funding that is specifically for technology in schools. One of the most common sources is government grants and schemes that are designed to support the development of technological infrastructure and the enhancement of digital education. To access these funding opportunities, you need to identify and apply for the ones that match your needs and goals for integrating new technology or upgrading the existing technology in your learning environment.

Choosing the Right Funding Source for Your School Project

If you want to get more funding for your school, you need to know what kind of funding rounds you can apply or bid for based on the type of projects you have in mind. Different funding sources have different criteria and purposes, such as expansion, maintenance or repairs. You need to have a clear idea of what your project entails and what funding source is most suitable for it.

One way to find the best funding source for your school project is to research the government funding options that are available. You need to understand the various options and how they match with your project goals. This can help you avoid wasting time and effort on funding rounds that are not relevant or feasible for you. However, finding and applying for the right funding source can be challenging and complicated. That’s why it can be helpful to get professional advice from experts who know the funding landscape and can guide you through the process.

At Help for Schools, we have a team of experts who can help you with your funding needs. We can provide you with insights and guidance that will make the funding process easier and faster. We can help you identify the most promising funding opportunities and assist you with your applications. We can help you maximise the funding potential for your school project and improve the learning environment for your students.

How to apply for Government Funding

If you are looking for ways to increase your school’s funding, this guide might be helpful for you. You will find some useful information about how to access different government grants for education and what kind of support you can get from our experts at Help for Schools. We are one of the leading provider of funding solutions for schools and  colleges across the UK. We can help you with identifying funding opportunities, writing successful bids and managing your estate effectively.

We have a passion for education and a wealth of experience in this sector. We understand the challenges and opportunities that schools face and we can help you achieve your goals. Whether you need funding for new buildings, equipment, staff or programmes, we can assist you with every step of the process. Contact us today and let us help you create the best learning environment for your students.

The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) is a vital source of funding for schools and colleges in England that need to carry out essential maintenance work on their buildings and facilities. However, the fund is becoming increasingly competitive and many schools are missing out on the opportunity to improve their learning environments. In this blog post, we will look at some of the key facts and figures about the CIF, and offer some tips on how to prepare a successful application.

What is the CIF and who can apply?

The CIF is an annual bidding round for eligible academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided (VA) schools to apply for capital funding from the Department for Education (DfE). The fund aims to address significant condition needs, such as roof repairs and fire safety, as well as support a small number of expansion projects for schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted that can demonstrate a need to grow.

To be eligible to apply, schools must meet certain criteria based on their size and type. For example, stand-alone academies, small multi-academy trusts (MATs) and small VA bodies can bid for CIF, while larger MATs and VA bodies receive direct school condition allocation (SCA) to invest in their priorities. Sixth-form colleges can also apply for CIF, but they must have plans to convert to academy status or join a MAT.

How competitive is the CIF?

The CIF is highly oversubscribed and only a fraction of applications are successful each year. In the 2023-24 financial year, only 19 per cent of schools — or 859 out of the more than 4,500 eligible — successfully secured funding, a Financial Times analysis of official data has shown. This was down from 25 per cent the previous year and represents a record low in the number of schools to receive funding through the CIF scheme since it was launched in 2014.

The total amount of funding available for CIF 2023-24 was £456 million, which was allocated to 1,033 projects at 859 schools and colleges. The average grant size was £441,000, but this varied depending on the type and scope of the project. The DfE prioritises projects that address urgent health and safety issues, building compliance and poor condition over those that seek to improve functionality or efficiency.

How to prepare a successful CIF application?

Given the high demand and limited supply of CIF funding, it is crucial for schools and colleges to prepare a strong and compelling application that demonstrates the need and impact of their proposed project. Here are some tips on how to do that:

– Start early: The CIF application window usually opens in October and closes in December, but it is advisable to start planning well in advance. This will give you enough time to gather evidence, obtain quotes, consult stakeholders and write a clear and concise application.

– Follow the guidance: The DfE publishes detailed guidance for applicants every year, which sets out the eligibility criteria, assessment process, scoring methodology and project categories. It is important to read and follow this guidance carefully and ensure that your application meets all the requirements and expectations.

– Focus on condition: The main purpose of the CIF is to address significant condition needs that affect the safety and suitability of school buildings. Therefore, your application should focus on how your project will address these needs and improve the condition of your premises. You should avoid requesting funding for cosmetic or minor improvements that do not have a significant impact on the learning environment.

– Provide evidence: Your application should be supported by robust evidence that demonstrates the need and feasibility of your project. This may include photographs, surveys, reports, quotes, risk assessments, planning permissions and letters of support. You should also provide evidence of how your project aligns with your school development plan and curriculum priorities.

– Be realistic: Your application should be realistic and proportionate to your needs and budget. You should avoid requesting funding for projects that are too ambitious or complex for your school or college. You should also consider alternative sources of funding or match-funding if possible, as this may increase your chances of success.

– Seek advice: If you are unsure about any aspect of your application or need help with preparing it, you can seek advice from various sources. For example, you can contact the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) using their enquiry form, or consult with professional advisers such as building consultants or CIF specialists. Help for Schools can assist you in finding the right specialist. Help for Schools can offer you guidance and support throughout the application process.

Conclusion

The Condition Improvement Fund is a valuable opportunity for schools and colleges in England to access capital funding for essential maintenance and improvement projects. However, the fund is very competitive and requires careful planning and preparation. By following the tips above, you can increase your chances of submitting a successful CIF application and securing the funding you need to enhance your learning environment.

Details of Awards

There were 4,547 academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided schools eligible to apply to CIF 2023 to 2024, of which 2,076 applied for 3,061 projects. CIF 2023 to 2024 will provide funding of £456 million for 1,033 of those projects at 859 academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided schools.

We have contacted all applicants to inform them of the outcome of their application and set out the next steps.

We have published additional information outlining the breakdown of CIF 2023 to 2024 applications by:

• geography
• phase of education
• type of project
• funding sources contribution scores for successful projects

Documents

Funding allocations for the 2023 to 2024 financial year

Capital funding is based on financial years. For the provisional funding amounts for the financial year 2023 to 2024 see:

• provisional school capital funding allocations for 2023 to 2024 (ODS, 2.23 MB)
• provisional school capital funding allocations for 2023 to 2024 (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 2.09 MB)

How the funding is calculated

See condition funding methodology 2023 to 2024 (PDF, 328 KB, 15 pages) for information on eligibility and how the funding is calculated.

What you can spend it on

See condition grants spend guidance (PDF, 317 KB, 14 pages) for guidance on the purpose of the funding, what you can spend it on and over what time period.

Urgent capital support (UCS) is specifically for urgent condition issues that pose the threat of immediate school closure.

Who can apply

You can apply if you are an academy, sixth-form college or VA school and you meet both of these conditions:

• you do not receive SCA
• you need funding assistance to address urgent building condition issues that either:
  • put the safety of your pupils or staff at risk
  • threaten the closure of the whole or a significant part of your school

Your application will be considered only if there is a genuine and immediate need for UCS and you cannot wait until the next round of CIF.

How funding is offered

UCS funding is offered primarily as a loan, subject to an assessment of finances. Trusts may also be required to contribute. Grant funding will be provided only in exceptional circumstances.

How to apply for UCS

1. Read Urgent capital support: how to apply (PDF, 295 KB, 18 pages).
2. Fill out the Urgent capital support: application form (MS Word Document, 221 KB).
3. Fill out the Urgent capital support: finance template (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 71.2 KB).
4. Email your application form and finance template to [email protected], with ‘Urgent capital support application’ and your institution name in the subject line. Make sure that the size of your email does not exceed 9MB.

More information

If you need further advice, contact us using the ESFA enquiry form.

Eligibility

We support high-achieving state-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges to improve the teaching of science, computer science, design & technology, art, languages, music and performing arts at GCSE and A-Level. We generally award grants towards new builds, refurbishment and technical equipment.

This information does not apply to special schools, which should apply under our funding for special needs schools and colleges.

Your school or college should:

• be state funded
• have at least two years of exam results available
• have been inspected by Ofsted / Estyn / HMIE / ETI and have an overall outcome of ‘Good’ or above
• be able to demonstrate an achieved level of excellence OR significant progress towards excellence through, for example, inspection reports and progress made by students
• if a predominantly denominational or faith-based school, it should have a non-discriminatory entry policy in respect of religious allegiance or at least 10% of pupils must be of other denominations, faiths or none.

In assessing the excellence of a school or college we also consider the local context, including deprivation measures and previous Wolfson support in the same region within the last five years.

Your project must cost at least £25,000 and have one or more of the following aims:

• Improved quality of teaching and learning spaces for subjects which require specialist laboratories and technical equipment
• Increased numbers of students taking these subjects
• Improved learning outcomes for students taking these subjects.

Need to know

Who can apply:
State-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges

Location of applicant and project:
UK only

Funding covers:
New build, refurbishment and technical equipment

Minimum grant amount:
£15,000

Usual grant range:
£15,000 – £50,000 (equipment projects)
£15,000 – £100,000 (new build and refurbishment projects)

Match funding required:
If total project cost is >£1 million, 25% match funding is required

If total project cost is between £50,000 and £1 million, we ask that some matched are in place. We do not require a specific amount of matched funds for projects on this scale, but we want to see that enough funding is in place to make the project viable and deliverable.

If total project cost is <£50,000, no match funding is required

Decision dates:
June and December annually. Projects must not be completed before a funding decision is made

Wolfson funding programme:
Secondary Education

These guidelines were last updated on 5 January 2023.  Guidelines and application forms are updated regularly throughout the year – please ensure you download the most recent guidelines to read through and to use the most recent application form links.

Who Can Apply

Priority is given to state funded primary schools (reception to end of Key Stage 2).

We will also consider applications from state secondary schools specifically towards books and reading resources to support catch up reading initiatives for Key Stage 3 pupils and/or transition reading programmes for pupils in feeder/local primary schools. More general applications towards books for secondary school libraries are less likely to be funded.

Requests from special schools for library books/reading resources are considered for all SEN age groups.

We do not accept applications from mainstream nurseries/early years only establishments (including those that have registered as a charity), although applying state primary schools are able to include within their request books/reading resources to support work with their local feeder nurseries.

Newly set up schools with little track record or detail of literacy needs are less of a priority and we advise waiting until you have this information before applying.

PTAs are not eligible to apply.  The application needs to come directly from the school.

Please note that competition is intense; we receive many more applications than we are able to fund.

How Much Can You Apply For

Schools can apply for between £2,000 and £10,000.  Please note that if successful, the Trustees may award less than the amount requested.

What We Fund

Priority, and the majority of given funds, will continue to be awarded for physical library/reading books.  We can consider a contribution towards e-readers and electronic reading resources, however a strong case for support and explanation of need will have to be made within the application.   We will not fund textbooks or curriculum books, nor will we fund classroom dictionaries and thesauruses (your request may include just a couple of dictionaries/thesauruses for the library to support reading skills).

The Foundation will also consider contributions towards library software, necessary IT equipment and furniture etc. in order to create a suitable library space and enable book lending outside the school, although ideally the majority of funding should be requested for books/reading materials.  We do not generally fund salaries or training costs.  Structural building costs will not usually be considered.

For other school projects, please refer to the Guidelines for the Main Grants Scheme and contact the Grants Team if necessary to discuss further.

Factors Which Will Strengthen Applications

• Preference will be given to schools which can clearly demonstrate a commitment to renewing and maintaining their library provision in the future.

• We will also take into account local deprivation levels, current literacy levels at the school and the impact of the pandemic on pupil’s learning when assessing applications.

• Schools looking to improve standards following a ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ inspection report.

• We are keen to support schools that are working in partnership with other local primary/secondary schools to improve reading standards.

When Can You Apply

There are no deadlines – online applications can be submitted at any time.  Once received, it will take up to four months, occasionally longer, to receive a decision from Trustees.

Please note that any grant awarded should be spent within six months of being awarded and copies of purchase receipts will be required.  If a grant is awarded it can only be used for purchases after the award date – the Foundation does not award retrospective funding.

If a previous application is declined, the school is eligible to reapply 12 months after the previous request date.

If a previous application is approved, the school is ineligible to apply to the Foundation for three years after the approval date due to intense competition for limited funds.  If the school has experienced significant change, on occasion we may consider a reapplication before three years, but this should be discussed with the Foundation Grants Team prior to submission.

Other Information

Please note that we purposely do not have a word limit to allow applicants the space to give us the information necessary to explain the project and the need for funding, but please keep answers relevant, clear and somewhat succinct.

Further information regarding the scheme, attachments and the application from can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions.

How To Apply

Applications need to be submitted online.

Please note that we purposely do not have a word limit to allow applicants the space to give us the information necessary to explain the project and the need for funding, but please keep answers relevant, clear and summarise information.

The Grant Appraisal Team may wish to discuss the application, and request further information in order to appraise the application before it is presented to Trustees.

The Chief Executive and Grants Team will report to the Trustees at the first available meeting and will notify the applicant of the Trustees’ decision, normally by email.

Information/Documents you will need:

• Email address
• Latest Ofsted report (or equivalent)
• Latest Ofsted interim monitoring letter (if applicable)
• Latest school budget (treated confidentially)
• Latest PTA/fundraising arm accounts (if they do not have official accounts, an income and expenditure table and current level of reserves will need to be provided.  A bank statement alone will not be sufficient)
• Library project budget (click here to download template) – you will need to download the excel sheet and ‘Save As’ to begin editing
• Latest school population statistics (e.g. FSM, PP, EAL)
• Latest assessment results (especially in relation to reading and literacy)
• Permission of the Headteacher to submit the request on behalf of the school

Creating an Account & Starting a New Application

You will need to create an account using your email address as part of the application process.  Once an account is created, you will receive email confirmation of this within a few minutes.  If this is not received please contact the Grants Team before proceeding.

You will be able to save an application you are working on and return to it later via your account.  A copy of the application questions can be emailed to yourself or others after you begin to complete the form.

1. Click on the following link to create or access your account.  From here you can access in progress applications and view previously submitted applications.

2. Click on the following link to create a new Foyle School Library Scheme application.

Note that applications you are working on will timeout after 60 minutes.  The timer is reset either when you save or navigate between pages.  Typing alone will not reset the timer.

Many applicants choose to type their answers onto a Microsoft Word document and then copy and paste onto the online form once ready to submit their application.

Further information regarding the scheme, attachments and the application from can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions.

Personal Information

The Foyle Foundation is committed to protecting all personal information you provide to us. We will only use contact information you provide for administration, evaluation and research purposes to facilitate our grant making and to further our charitable activities. Personal contact information will not be made public in anyway.  Please also see our Privacy Notice.