Location: Home » Learning » Children's Services » Enjoy and Achieve » Schools » School Buildings » Funding

Schools' Accommodation Services Funding

Local Authorities and Schools have access to a range of funding sources. The Department for Children, Schools and Families and LA believe that building work at schools should be driven by the school's Asset Management Plan. This provides the information necessary to make decisions on priorities both at a school and LA level. It is vital that this information is kept accurate and up to date. The DCSF supports the concept of joined up funding and schemes that utilise a variety of funding streams are likely to be given a higher priority.

As part of the LA's commitment to transparency, the programme for work funded by the LA's Capital Programme is issued to the Working Party on the Development of the Capital Programme for approval. See the Capital Programme - working group representatives December 2008  (5.16 KB)

The Main funding sources used to develop school accommodation are: (for more details click on funding title)

• New Pupil Places Formula
• NDS Modernisation Funding
• Schools Access Initiative
• NDS Devolved Formula Capital
• Building Schools for the Future
• Specialist College Status
• Targeted Capital Funding
• Specialist Government Initiatives
• Worcestershire County Council Capital Pot
• Small Works Programme
• Third Party Funding

Teachernet has an introduction to Capital funding for school buildings.

DCSF Funding

New Pupil Places Formula

This replaced Basic Need funding and is available to the LA for the next few years. This funding is given to the LA to support the requirement for additional school places due to population growth where there is no more capacity in local schools.

Further details on New Pupil Places funding can be found on the Teachernet.

NDS Modernisation Funding

This funding is given direct to the LA to allow it to assist schools in raising educational standards by addressing suitability and condition issues within schools as identified under the school’s Asset Management Plan. Funding is allocated to the LA on a formula basis based on building need and pupil numbers.

Precedence is given to those schools that are deemed to be a high priority e.g. Category A’s or B’s or Health & Safety priority within the suitability element or school’s with priority 1 or 2’s within the condition element.

Administered by the LA as part of its Capital programme, in consultation with colleagues in Property Services.

Examples of projects to be funded by the Modernisation programme include the Refurbishment of the School Hall at Blackwell First, Bromsgrove and New Library Extension at Elmley Castle CE First, Pershore.

Further details on Modernisation Funding can be found on teachernet.

Schools Access Initiative

This funding is given to the LA to make mainstream schools more accessible to children with disabilities and special educational needs. Needs  are identified in consultation with the appropriate Outreach Unit and prioritised for schools with existing special needs pupils, or with pupils about to be admitted, who would benefit from adaptations to the existing buildings. Funding is allocated to the LA on a pupil related formula.

Examples of projects recently funded through SAI include the New BMA at Rushwick Primary and New BMA & Access Works at Badsey First, Evesham.

Money allocated from this source must be spent within a defined time.

Further details on SAI Funding can be found on teachernet.

NDS Devolved Formula Capital

For County and Voluntary Controlled schools this funding is allocated to schools on a formula basis and administered by the Schools’ Accommodation Service on behalf of the LA. Funding is not given directly to schools but is held centrally by the LA who give approval to all schemes. Download a copy of the approval form  (32.50 KB) .

This funding can be rolled over for a maximum of three years. As this funding is a Standards fund grant a 17-month financial year applies. Any allocation unspent after three years will be lost to the school e.g. allocation for 2007-08 must be spent by August 31st 2011.

This funding can be used for small-scale capital projects or as a contribution towards larger schemes. It should be prioritised against needs identified against a school’s Asset Management Plan. It can only be used for loose furniture and fittings if this is a small element of a larger project. It can also be used to purchase ICT equipment provided the school has addressed all high priority issues on its AMP. No project costing less than £1,500 can be funded from this grant.

Further details.on Devolved Formula Capital Funding can be found on teachernet.

Voluntary Aided schools' Devolved Formula Capital is paid direct to the schools or Diocese. Approval must be gained from the Diocese prior to work being undertaken and the LA should be kept informed to allow accurate AMP to be maintained.

Building Schools for the Future

New DCSF initiative started in 2004-05. Worcestershire is due to receive funding from 2011 or sooner if the oppurtunity arises. The DCSF is committed to refurbish or rebuild all Secondary Schools within the next fifteen years. Funding is from a mixture of PFI and conventional borrowing. The LA has bid for funding to undertake major Capital works in the five areas of the County, starting with Wyre Forest following the major review that has been undertaken.

Further details on Building Schools for the Future can be found on teachernet.

Specialist College Status

This allows Secondary schools to apply for funding to support their aim to become a specialist College. The school receives £100,000 of funding from the DCSF providing it raises a minimum of £50,000 in private sponsorship.

Further details on Specialist College Status can be found on teachernet.

Targeted Capital Funding

This funding is a limited programme designed to support specific projects which contribute directly to meeting the Government’s key educational objectives and which might not otherwise be supported by other funding routes. The LA is invited to bid directly to the DCSF who judge the bid against criteria published at the start of the bidding round. In consultation with Diocesan partners it can also bid for projects to support VA schools.

Further details on Targeted Capital Funding can be found on teachernet.

Special Government Initiatives

The DCSF introduces special grants at various intervals, which are specifically targeted at Government priorities. In the past these have included: Standards Fund for Security, Staff Workplace Initiative and Key Stage 1 – Class Size funding.

LA Co-ordinated Voluntary Aided Programme (LCVAP)

Funding exclusively for VA schools. This is allocated in consultation with Diocesan partners, Trusts and Property Services.

For further details please refer to the DCSF Blue Book.

Examples of projects to be funded by the LCVAP programme in 2007-08 include a New School Hall at Cutnall Green CE First and Secure Lobby & Office at Malvern Wells CE Primary.

Further details on LCVAP Funding can be found on teachernet.

Non DCSF Funding

Worcestershire County Council Capital Pot

The LA can bid for funds from the Council’s Capital Pot to fund significant developments to avoid draining other limited funding sources.

An example of a project funded from the Council’s Capital Pot is the provision of a new school for Red Hill CE Primary School in Worcester.

Small Works Programme

An allocation from WCC Capital Pot. The LA uses this to fund basic need changes, primarily the transfer and location of temporary accommodation serving a short-term need, Youth Support and Social Care.

Third Party Funding

This can include the Lottery, The Football Foundation, Charities etc. who are prepared to support large and small scale projects in schools.

Further details of grants available to schools can be found on teachernet.

Return to top of page