Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to guidance on the Condition Improvement Fund, updated on 13 October 2022, and the availability of loans for academies and sixth form colleges, how a demonstrated commitment to a proposed condition improvement scheme, which has been demonstrated by seeking a loan, as set out on page 39 of the Information for Applicants document, may (a) advantage an application in respect of its probability of success, and (b) expedite the processing of an application.

There is no obligation on schools to take out a Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) loan or provide a contribution towards a CIF project from financial reserves.

CIF loans are an option available for all or part of the funding for any CIF project. Applicants can choose the size of any loan and a timescale of up to 10 years over which they may repay.

Applicants may receive between one and six points in the CIF project assessment if they provide a contribution from their existing funds, third party funding or take out a CIF loan.

Providing a financial contribution or taking out a CIF loan does not expedite the CIF application. The funding sources score contributes to the overall score of the bid. It is the overall score that decides whether a bid is successful, not the level of any contribution provided. The main consideration for applicants should be on achieving a high overall score by evidencing high condition need, strong cost certainty and detailed project delivery planning. The final consideration should be about whether a contribution is affordable and whether a small number of additional points can be achieved from making one.

Encouraging schools and trusts to take out a repayable CIF loan or make a contribution from reserves, helps ensure they are engaged in delivering value for money projects and maximises the amount of work the fund can support each year.