New regional academy growth fund announced
The Department for Education announced a new regional academy growth fund (RAGF) to support successful trusts in growing and improving standards for underperforming schools.
The fund is available for new and existing sponsors looking for extra funding to build capacity to take on underperforming schools, for multi-academy trusts that need additional funding to support expansion, and for high performing sponsors to establish a new hub in a geographical area.
Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) will “prioritise applications that meet the specific needs in their region and of an ‘opportunity area’ where applicable”.
The deadline for submitting applications is 20 January 2017, but the Department specifies that RSCs do not have to wait until the deadline to start approving applications. Applicants will find out the outcome no later than 31 March 2017.
To apply for these grants, you need to complete the application form and send it to the regional academy fund mailbox by the deadline.
The new hub locations in the North East listed on the DfE website are North Tees, Darlington and Durham.
Click here to find out more about the eligibility and assessment criteria for each funding opportunity.