New SSICB Funding: What Schools and Trusts Need to Know

The Department for Education (DfE) has released new guidance about funding available through its Strategic School Improvement Capital Budget (SSICB) and while it might not sound exciting at first glance, it’s an important update for schools and trusts considering a transfer or new sponsorship arrangement.

A new route for capital funding

The SSICB is a separate funding stream from the more familiar Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). While CIF supports schools to address significant issues with their buildings through annual bidding rounds, the SSICB is focused on supporting school transfers, particularly cases where a school’s capital needs are so significant that they risk becoming a barrier to joining a new responsible body.

In other words, if a school’s site is in such poor condition that it could deter a trust from taking it on, the DfE may consider helping to fund the most urgent works.

Who can apply and when

SSICB funding may be available for:

• Full or intermediate sponsorships
• Fast-track academy projects
• Academy transfers subject to intervention

However, there’s a very high bar for eligibility. The DfE has made it clear that responsible bodies should not assume this funding will be granted and all applications must be approved before a transfer takes place - retrospective bids won’t be accepted.

The DfE will also consider the incoming trust’s financial reserves and typically won’t fund works if the trust has the means to cover them.

What the funding can (and can’t) be used for

The SSICB can support capital works that address urgent, high-cost needs only.

Examples include:

• Condition – repairs and upgrades to school buildings (without increasing the floor area)
• ICT infrastructure – improving networks or systems, but not purchasing equipment
• Safeguarding – essential works to make buildings safe, such as fencing or asbestos removal
• Suitability – in rare cases, works that make facilities more appropriate for teaching and learning where current spaces seriously compromise education

The DfE applies a particularly strict standard when assessing “suitability” cases - the need must be critical, not just desirable.

The responsibilities of trusts and outgoing bodies

The DfE expects outgoing responsible bodies to have already met their legal duties for safety and safeguarding. If they haven’t, they may be asked to contribute towards any necessary works.

For trusts taking on a school, the DfE expects them to plan long-term maintenance and improvement through their School Condition Allocation, meaning SSICB funding is intended as a short-term, exceptional measure rather than ongoing support.

Why this matters for schools and MATs

For trusts, the SSICB could help make new sponsorships or transfers viable where building condition has previously been a major obstacle. But the guidance also makes clear that the DfE’s threshold for funding is very high, meaning many schools will still need to rely on their own capital plans or seek support through other funding routes.

For schools, this highlights the importance of early conversations with potential trusts and DfE regional delivery officers, particularly where site condition is a known challenge.

Final thoughts

While the new SSICB guidance offers a potential safety net for schools in difficult circumstances, it’s far from a guaranteed solution. The DfE’s approach puts the emphasis firmly on responsible bodies to manage capital needs wherever possible, reserving SSICB funding for the most urgent and exceptional cases.

Still, for schools struggling with serious site issues that have previously blocked academy transfers, this could open the door to new opportunities for support and improvement.