The Department for Education (DfE) has released a new grant known as the Multi Academy trust (MAT) Development and Improvement Fund (MDIF), which aims to provide additional funding to trusts in order to improve schools and increase social mobility.
MDIF grants will usually be between £50,000 and £100,000 and will be awarded for activities starting before 31 March 2018.
The funding can be used to:
All trusts, including new MATs looking to set up, are eligible to apply.
In order to apply, within the next 12 months the trust must have either taken into the trust at least two additional schools, or form a new MAT of two schools or more and improve them.
Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) will prioritise applications from trusts in specific geographical ‘priority areas’ and those who are planning to either take on and improve schools that need help to raise attainment for disadvantaged pupils, or take on and improve Ofsted ‘inadequate’ and ‘requires improvement’ schools.
RSCs will consider the following points when assessing the applications:
All applications from MATs must be submitted using the DfE’s online form. For new MATs, an offline version of the application form can be completed.
All applications must be submitted by 26 November 2017. Successful applicants will be notified by 31 March 2018.
For any further information or advice, please contact a member of our Education team.