What the 2025 DfE Capital Funding Boost Means for School Refurbishment

 In March 2025, the UK government confirmed an additional £850 million in capital funding for schools, marking the biggest year-on-year increase in education infrastructure spending in nearly a decade.

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The Funding Uplift Schools Have Been Waiting For

In a welcome move, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced a substantial capital funding boost for schools in 2025. This injection of £850 million into the school estate marks a renewed focus on upgrading the quality and safety of educational environments. While some of the funding will address immediate concerns like RAAC concrete and safeguarding issues, a large portion is being allocated for proactive, forward-looking improvements; including refurbishments, expansions, and modernisation.

For school leaders, MATs and business managers, this is a timely opportunity to transform ageing spaces, adapt to evolving educational needs, and invest in long-term success.

Why Now? The Drivers Behind the Increase This uplift comes against the backdrop of three key trends:

1. Ageing infrastructure – 38% of school buildings in England are past their intended lifespan.

   
   

2. Space shortages – Primary and secondary school pupil numbers are set to increase by over 140,000 by 2026.

   
   

3. New policy pressures – Government targets for net-zero, inclusive design and wellbeing are reshaping what schools need from their built environments.

   
   

Rather than constantly patching problems, schools are being encouraged to take strategic action—to use this funding to build smarter, safer, more inspiring spaces.

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How Schools Can Capitalise on the Funding Whether your focus is washrooms, labs, teaching walls or breakout areas, now is the time to think bigger than isolated upgrades. Here’s how you can make this capital injection work harder:

• Think long-term: Prioritise solutions that combine durability, low maintenance, and future-proof layouts.

  
  

• Design for purpose: Align upgrades with teaching outcomes (e.g. agile furniture for flexible learning, improved acoustics for focus)

  
  

• Bundle your refurbishments: Consolidate needs across departments or buildings for a cost-effective, whole-site approach.

  
  

Consult early: Starting early with feasibility studies, quotes and planning can help you act fast once funds are released.

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Architects and Contractors: A Strategic Moment Too It’s not just schools which stand to benefit. For architects, main contractors, and FM providers, the next 6–12 months will be a crucial window for tenders, bids and project planning. Those who align their services with DfE goals such as net-zero, wellbeing and inclusivity, will be in high demand.

Final Thought: This funding uplift is more than a cheque... it’s a catalyst. Use it to not just fix what’s broken, but to create inspiring, resilient environments that truly support learning.

Ready to put your funding to work?

Get in touch with Brookhouse on 0345 383 0050, or email us on inspire@brookhouseuk.com, and let’s design a space that enables success.