DfE allocates £184m to expand post-16 capacity in 19 devolved areasA closer look at the 2026 to 2027 CIF results
The CIF 2026 to 2027 results were published on 22 May 2026. The programme attracted applications from 1,706 eligible schools, academies and sixth-form colleges across 2,525 projects. Of those, 813 projects at 684 institutions were approved for funding, with a further 12 projects pending approval subject to due diligence.
The figures reflect the scale of unmet need across the education estate. More than half of all projects submitted were unsuccessful, which is a reminder that CIF remains a highly competitive programme, and that the quality and evidence base of an application has a direct bearing on the outcome.
Next steps
If your project was successful
Receiving a CIF allocation is the beginning of the process, not the end. The funding is approved for a specific project, and you are now responsible for delivering it to the standard the DfE expects, within the agreed timeline and budget.
For schools that prepared and submitted their own application, the delivery phase can present a different set of challenges. Translating an approved funding bid into a well-managed, compliant capital project requires procurement expertise, contractor oversight, and an understanding of DfE reporting requirements. Without the right support in place, there is a real risk of projects running over budget, encountering unforeseen condition issues, or falling short of the standards required.
If you submitted your own bid and now need support to deliver the project effectively, we can help. Our team can step in at any stage, from procurement and specification through to project management and completion, to ensure your allocation achieves everything it was intended to.
If your application was unsuccessful
An unsuccessful outcome does not necessarily mean the end of the road. The DfE operates an appeals process, and where an application was declined on challengeable grounds, for example, where the urgency of a condition issue was not sufficiently demonstrated, an appeal may be worth pursuing. If you are considering this route, we can review your submission and advise on whether and how to proceed.
For schools looking further ahead, the DfE typically opens an autumn resubmission window later in the year. The time between now and then is best used strengthening your evidence base. The most common reasons applications fall short are insufficient condition survey data, weak cost evidence, and project scopes not clearly aligned to DfE priority criteria – all of which are addressable with the right preparation.
Exploring alternative funding routes
If your application was unsuccessful, securing funding for outstanding condition work does not have to depend on a single programme. Urgent Capital Support and a range of other capital funding options may be relevant depending on your school’s type, governance structure, and the nature of the works needed.
Understanding which routes are open to you, and how to build the evidence base to access them, is the logical next step. Our team can review your condition priorities, identify the most appropriate funding routes, and help you put the groundwork in place, so you are ready to move when opportunities arise.
What to do now
Whether you have secured funding and need help delivering your project, are considering an appeal, or are planning a resubmission this autumn, the steps you take now will shape your position.
Our team works exclusively within the education sector and has supported schools, academies, and trusts through every stage of the process, from initial condition surveys and funding strategy through to project delivery.
We are available to attend individual school meetings to discuss your specific situation and offer our expert insight on the best way forward. To arrange a conversation, please complete the contact form below.
Written by Jenny Fram, Head of Business Development
Jenny Fram is Head of Business Development at BTG Eddisons Education, specialising in education and public sector funding, estates advice, and building and project consultancy. She works with schools and multi-academy trusts to improve their school estates and identify the funding needed to make those improvements happen.
