Synergy News & Blog: News
Launch of the 2026/27 CIF Round
The application round for CIF 2026 to 2027 is now open as the Department for Education (DfE) released new dates and guidance this week.
What is CIF?
CIF primarily funds projects that maintain safe, functional school and college buildings. The fund targets significant building issues—such as those related to condition, compliance, or health and safety—that cannot be resolved with standard revenue or other funding sources.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to apply for CIF funding, your school 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).
- 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
Schools chosen for the school rebuilding programme may only submit a CIF application solely to address legal compliance and health and safety issues.
Key dates:
• Deadline for new applicants to register for a CIF portal account: 12 noon, 9 December 2025
• Deadline for submission: 12 noon, 16 December 2025.
• Outcome expected: May 2026
• Appeal Window Opens: June 2026
• Appeal Outcomes: July 2026
Next steps?
The bidding round is highly competitive with only a third of applications being successful on average each year. It is therefore essential to provide robust documentation that:
- prioritise projects that closely align with the criteria
- demonstrate the urgency and impact of the proposed works
- provides evidence that creates a compelling case for funding
This will increase the likelihood of securing vital investment for essential improvements.
Synergy’s expertise with CIF bids enables us to guide schools through the complexities of the application process, ensuring that every submission is meticulously prepared and meets all necessary requirements. By leveraging our experience, we help maximise the chances of success, allowing schools to secure much-needed funding for critical building improvements.
Get in touch with our team here to discuss how we can support with your CIF project.
