Glossary.
The published ESFA documentation uses defined abbreviations that recur throughout the handbook. This glossary collects them in one place for lookup.
Compiled by Oliver Wakefield-Smith, founder, Digital Signet. Reviewed against ESFA Information for Applicants 2026-27 and the Condition Funding Methodology March 2026 revision.
A-E
Accounting Officer - the senior trust officer (typically CEO) who signs the funding agreement and submission. Condition Funding Methodology - the published ESFA scoring methodology. DfE - Department for Education. DFC - Devolved Formula Capital, the annual per-academy allocation. ESFA - Education and Skills Funding Agency, the DfE executive agency responsible for CIF.
F-P
FRA - Fire Risk Assessment. FRAEW - Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls. MAT - Multi-Academy Trust. PAN - Published Admission Number. PSBP - Priority School Building Programme, the closed predecessor of SRP. PSDS - Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Q-Z
RAAC - Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, the structural panel material at risk of failure. SAT - Single-Academy Trust. SCA - School Condition Allocation. SRP - School Rebuilding Programme. UTC - University Technical College. VA - Voluntary-Aided (typically diocesan) school.
Condition grades
A - good (no remedial work required). B - satisfactory (minor or cyclical work). C - poor (significant remedial work required, performance degraded). D - bad (life-expired, replacement essential, risk to operation).