In light of a lower percentage of projects approved in the latest Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2025/6 round, many schools may be left feeling disappointed with the outcome of their bid(s).
If this is the case for your school, now is the time to get in touch with us. With a proven track record of success and regional expertise, Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors is ideally placed to help your application stand the best chance of approval.
Here we take a closer look at what’s happening and why it’s becoming increasingly difficult for schools to access CIF funding.
Approvals in 2025/6 Fall to Lowest Ever Rate
The results from the latest round of the CIF, announced at the end of May 2025, will undoubtedly have left many schools disappointed. Only 789 bids were approved – the lowest number on record. That figure represents just 27% of total applications, and an even lower percentage of actual schools.
Rising Costs and Demand
The problem isn’t that the need for funding has decreased. In fact, quite the opposite. Construction costs have risen significantly in recent years. Yet the overall CIF funding pot has not increased in line with these rising costs.
As a result, fewer bids are being approved, and competition is fiercer than ever. This trend means that successfully securing CIF funding is not just difficult, it’s becoming nearly impossible without expert input.
Is CIF Still Fit for Purpose?
There is an ongoing debate about whether CIF is still the best way to distribute capital funding to academy schools. Some critics have labelled the system a “lottery,” questioning whether it’s the fairest or most effective way of allocating government funding.
However, at Lea Hough, our view is that despite its flaws, CIF is still better than the alternative…
The alternative would likely be to allocate funding on a per-pupil basis, similar to the School Condition Allocation (SCA) used for large MATs and dioceses. But this would mean spreading the same limited pot of money across many more schools, resulting in far smaller allocations per school.
In such a scenario, large-scale, high-urgency projects such as boiler replacements, full roof refurbishments, or safeguarding works would simply become unaffordable for most schools. CIF, for all its challenges, at least enables high-value projects to proceed, prioritising the schools in greatest need.
Increasing the Likelihood of CIF Success
One of the strengths of CIF is that funding is only awarded to robust, well-prepared bids and the schemes that are funded must be delivered. This ensures that allocated money is used efficiently and that critical works are actually carried out.
However, this makes CIF bids complex and time-consuming to prepare. Applications must provide a clear, compelling case backed by details technical evidence, cost certainty and a clear delivery plan. Schools attempting to submit bids without expert guidance are at a significant disadvantage.
How We Help Schools Beat the Odds
At Lea Hough, our School Building Consultants have a proven track record of securing CIF funding for schools. We understand how to build the evidence, present the urgency, and align with DfE priorities.
More importantly, we manage the entire process from survey and bid preparation to project delivery, so school leaders can focus on what they do best.
If your school is planning to bid in the next CIF round, get in touch with Lea Hough’s specialist team and give your application the best possible chance of success.
