A small academy trust refused cash for vital repairs is set to merge with another chain in part so that it can access regular capital funding.
Schools Week analysis shows that the Department for Education approved just one in three bids for money from the latest round of the condition improvement fund (CIF).
Trusts with fewer than five schools or 3,000 pupils must bid for cash to keep buildings in “safe and good working order”. Larger trusts automatically receive capital funding through the school condition allowance (SCA).
The four-school Compass Academy Trust has had four of 14 funding bids for maintenance work approved over the past two years.
