With an estimated 1.5 million children studying in dilapidated buildings, the School Condition Allocation (SCA) allows schools to carry out critical work, making facilities safer and better for everyone.
However, knowing what you can and cannot spend the funding on is vital, and our guide is designed to show educators how they can best utilise this excellent scheme. Continue reading to learn more.
What is School Condition Allocation funding?
School Condition Allocation (SCA) is a capital funding grant for multi-academy trusts (MATs) with more than five academies and 3,000 students. The funding is based on the number of pupils in your trust and is a guaranteed source of income for your MAT every year. It can help you maintain your buildings and grounds, as well as cover any other issues that need addressing.
How can you use SCA Funding?
Guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) states that the School Condition Allocation should be used to ‘maintain and improve the condition of school buildings so children can learn in a safe and effective environment’.
More specifically, it sets out four areas that it can be used to address, including:
- Poor building condition
- Building compliance
- Energy efficiency
- Health and safety issues
With that broad remit, you can use SCA funding for a wide range of works associated with maintaining your school buildings and grounds. Here are some examples of what the School Condition Allocation can be used for:
Building Condition
- Repairs to roofs, windows, doors, walls and floors
- Fixing structural issues
- Replacing or repairing boilers and heating systems
- Electrical safety upgrades
Compliance and Health & Safety
- Fire safety systems, such as alarms, fire doors and emergency lighting
- Asbestos removal or management
- Security improvements, including fencing and CCTV
Mechanical and Electrical Systems
- Replacing outdated or unsafe electrical systems
- Upgrading plumbing, heating and ventilation systems
Energy Efficiency
- Installing insulation, LED lighting or energy-efficient heating
- Renewable energy projects like solar panels, so long as they reduce long-term maintenance risk
What can School Condition Allocation NOT be spent on?
It is also important to understand what you cannot spend SCA on to ensure you do not waste your time planning to carry out incorrect work. Some things you will not be able to spend the School Condition Allocation on include curriculum resources, staffing costs, training and projects for aesthetic purposes.
How do I plan how I spend SCA funding?
To determine how best to spend your SCA, each school should decide its priorities, whether it is capital refurbishment and repairs, minor works, or improvements to buildings and other facilities, such as IT.
If you are unsure what your School Condition Allocation can be spent on, we can offer advice or create a maintenance programme on your behalf. Please call 0808 253 1172 to speak to our team.
What is a school maintenance programme, and how do I create one?
Working as your strategic premises partner, we can help you develop a school maintenance programme, which is designed to show you how your SCA should be spent. We do this by prioritising your maintenance issues and your future demands to create a comprehensive and achievable upkeep programme.
When we create your school maintenance plan, we can:
- Develop a property maintenance and expansion strategy on your behalf
- Conduct building condition surveys to get a detailed understanding of the physical, mechanical and electrical condition of your buildings, systems and external areas
- Provide a prioritised and fully costed list of maintenance projects
- Help you manage your short, medium and long-term defect priorities alongside your new building ambitions
- Manage and administer your maintenance projects
Get in touch for SCA assistance
Get in touch using the form below to find out how our fully qualified RICS-accredited surveyors can support your multi-academy trust and help you make the most of your SCA funding.
Alternatively, why not consider applying for another education funding scheme with us, such as CIF, Low Carbon Skills Fund or PSDS?
