CIF 2026–27 appeal results: what do they mean for schools?
The Department for Education (DfE) has published the results of the 2026–27 Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) appeals, with a further 10 projects approved across 10 schools.
Eight of the successful schools had not secured funding in the initial CIF round, while two had already been awarded a successful project in the results announced in May. This brings the total number of successful appeals broadly in line with last year, with one additional school and project receiving funding, an increase of 11%.
The limited number of successful appeals is consistent with the trend seen over the past two years. Just nine projects were successful through appeals in 2025–26, compared with an average of around 30 projects in the years preceding this period. This suggests that successful appeals remain a relatively limited route to additional CIF funding.
What does this mean for the 2026–27 CIF results?
The appeal results take the total number of successful CIF projects for 2026–27 to 823, across 692 schools. This represents an increase of 3% in projects and 4% in successful schools compared with last year.
These figures remain subject to change, however, as some projects from the initial round were still awaiting approval to proceed. The final number of funded projects and schools will therefore depend on the outcome of those approvals.
While the appeal process provides an important opportunity for schools to challenge an unsuccessful application, the relatively small number of successful appeals demonstrates that it remains a limited route to additional capital funding.
Looking ahead: preparing for the next opportunity
The DfE’s Education Estates Strategy indicated that CIF is expected to be replaced from Autumn 2028. If this timetable remains unchanged, there may be a final CIF round for the 2027–28 financial year, although this has not yet been formally confirmed. Applications usually open in October and close in December.
For CIF-eligible institutions it increasingly important to understand and evidence estate condition and maintenance needs now to be ready for a potential final round and whatever funding mechanism follows.
The DfE’s School Estate Management Standards provide a useful framework for developing this understanding. Having a clear picture of the condition of the estate, the risks associated with identified issues and the priorities for investment will put institutions and responsible bodies in a stronger position to respond to future funding opportunities, whatever form they take.
Planning ahead? Three things to do now
Understand
Review your latest condition data and estate information to identify your greatest risks and investment needs. This provides the evidence base for deciding which projects should be prioritised.
Prioritise
Develop a shortlist of potential projects based on urgency, risk and strategic need. Consider the consequences of not addressing each issue and how individual projects fit within wider estate priorities.
Evidence
Start gathering the information needed to demonstrate the case for investment. This could include surveys, photographs, condition information, risk assessments and cost estimates, helping you respond quickly if a new CIF round opens.
Our latest CIF insights
Our latest CIF 2026–27 insights explore the wider results in more detail, including trends in success rates, application behaviour, project types, regional variation and the relationship between funding outcomes and condition need.
The analysis also considers what this year’s results could mean for the future of CIF as the DfE prepares to replace the current model.
Click here to download our CIF 2026–27 insights.
As schools begin to plan for the year ahead, now is a good time to review condition information, identify priority projects and ensure that the evidence is in place to support any future funding application.
If you are considering a potential CIF application or would like to discuss your wider estate needs, our team of education estates experts can help. Please get in touch to discuss how we can support your planning.
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