School Condition Allocation (SCA) and larger MATs

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You need a condition survey before you can prioritise SCA spending

Each year, the largest Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), with at least five academies and more than 3,000 students in them, receive a School Condition Allocation (SCA) from the Government’s Education and Skills Funding Agency.

The SCA is for keeping academy buildings in good condition so that students have a safe and suitable environment to learn in. The fund is for:

  • Carrying out priority maintenance needs.

  • Keeping buildings safe and in good working order

  • Tackling poor building condition

  • Ensuring building compliance with energy efficiency and health and safety legislation

SCA and MAT responsibilities

In order to apportion an SCA grant strategically across a potentially large, widely distributed and varied estate where it will do most good, a MAT’s management team must have a complete picture of its estate and the condition it’s in.

A MAT management board in receipt of a SCA is required to carry out its duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and comply with all relevant building regulations.

It must also understand in detail the data relating to the current condition of its estate and develop a long-term asset management strategy. The easiest way to achieve this is to incorporate a schedule of condition surveys in to an estate management plan.

What is a condition survey?

Surveyors to Education uses qualified and experienced surveyors to carry out condition surveys to provide objective information about the condition of your premises, using a common grading system to enable fair comparison across sites and to allow effective prioritisation.

Our condition surveys include:

  • A description and narrative of findings

  • Clear condition grades of individual premises within the estate

  • Recommendations for remedial works or replacements, and their costings

  • Identification of associated risks and priorities

  • Information about other benefits, for example energy savings

Ensuring a safe learning environment for students and staff

Knowing the condition of your buildings is the first step towards prioritising maintenance work and ensuring the health and safety of children, staff and visitors.

For more information about making the most of your SCA, please contact Surveyors to Education on 01530 276127 or email enquire@s2e.org.uk.

Adam RichardsSurveyors to EducationESFA, Condition Surveys