Funding for secondary schools & sixth form colleges

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent, grant-making charity, based in central London but funding across the UK. We have a wide range of funding programmes and activities. Our fundamental aim is to improve the civic health of society, mainly through education and research.

Our main grants programme provides support for places. These grants are for capital initiatives, i.e. buildings (new build or refurbishment) and equipment. We fund a broad range of organisations working across the fields of education, science & medicine, health & disability, heritage, humanities & the arts.

Funding for secondary schools & sixth form colleges: We support high-achieving state-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges to improve the teaching of science, computer science, design & technology, art, languages, music and performing arts at GCSE and A-Level. Grants are generally awarded towards new builds, refurbishment and technical equipment.

This information does not apply to special schools, which should apply under our funding for special needs schools and colleges.

Need to know Who can apply: State-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges Location of applicant and project: UK only Funding covers: New build, refurbishment and technical equipment Minimum grant amount: £15,000 Usual grant range: -£15,000 – £50,000 (equipment projects) -£15,000 – £100,000 (new build and refurbishment projects) Match funding required: -If total project cost is >£1million, 25% match funding is required -If total project cost is between £50,000 and £1million, some matched funds are required -If total project cost is <£50,000, no match funding is required Decision dates: June and December annually. Projects must not be completed before a funding decision is made Wolfson funding programme: Secondary Education

The school or college should meet all of the following criteria:

• be state-funded
• have at least two years of exam results available
• have been inspected by Ofsted / Estyn / HMIE / ETI and have an overall outcome of ‘Good’ or above -be able to demonstrate an achieved level of excellence OR significant progress towards excellence through, for example, inspection reports and progress made by students
• if a predominantly denominational or faith based school, it should have a non-discriminatory entry policy in respect of religious allegiance or at least 10% of pupils must be of other denominations, faiths or none. In assessing the excellence of a school or college we will also take into account its local context, including deprivation measures and previous Wolfson support in the same region within the last five years.

The project must cost at least £25,000 and also aim to produce one or more of the following outcomes:

• Improved quality of teaching and learning spaces for subjects which require specialist laboratories and technical equipment
• Increased numbers of students taking these subjects
• Improved learning outcomes for students taking these subjects

Examples of ineligible projects and costs include:

• Musical instruments
• General auditorium refurbishments
• General IT infrastructure
• Library facilities
• Purchase of land or existing buildings (including a building’s freehold)
• Grants direct to individuals
• Grants through conduit organisations
• Overheads, maintenance costs and VAT
• Non-specific appeals (including circulars) and endowment funds
• Costs of meetings, exhibitions, concerts, expeditions, conferences, lectures, etc.
• Salary costs
• Running costs, including vehicle fuel and maintenance
• Film, websites or promotional materials
• Repayment of loans
• Projects that have already been completed or will be by the time of award