Schools and trusts explicitly out of scope.
Beyond the SCA disqualification, ESFA applies a short list of explicit exclusions. Most concern programme overlap rather than school type.
Compiled by Oliver Wakefield-Smith, founder, Digital Signet. Reviewed against ESFA Information for Applicants 2026-27 and the Condition Funding Methodology March 2026 revision.
Schools in the School Rebuilding Programme
Schools currently in the SRP cohort cannot bid for CIF on works already covered by the SRP nomination. They may bid for unrelated works at a separate building if the trust is otherwise eligible.
PSBP legacy
Schools in the Priority School Building Programme cohort, where delivery is still in flight, cannot bid for CIF on works in scope of the PSBP contract. Once PSBP delivery is complete, the school is treated as any other and may apply on the next cycle.
Federations and free schools
Federated maintained schools that have not converted to academy status are not in scope. Free schools and UTCs are eligible on the same terms as academies, subject to the conversion-date cut-off for the round.
Appealing a contested exclusion
Where eligibility is contested, the route is the published appeals window. Appeals on eligibility grounds must demonstrate a material error in the determination.