Main Capital Programme (Education focus)

Main Capital Programme (Education focus) is sponsored by The Wolfson Foundation. The Wolfson Foundation funds capital infrastructure (buildings and equipment) to promote excellence in education, science & medicine, health & disability, and arts & humanities.

Funding for secondary schools and sixth form colleges Funding for secondary schools & sixth form colleges Funding for secondary schools & sixth form colleges Our 2026 funding round is now closed, and we will make funding decisions in November 2026. We expect to share the dates and details of our next funding round in spring 2027.

​We support high-achieving state-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges to improve the teaching at GCSE and A-Level of subjects that need specialist spaces and equipment. We award grants towards capital projects that help schools to create and improve these facilities. This information does not apply to special schools , which should apply under our funding for special needs schools and colleges .

Your school or college should: have at least two years of exam results available have been inspected by Ofsted / Estyn / HMIE / ETI and have an overall outcome, or majority of ratings, of ‘Good’ or above (or ‘Strong Standard’ or above in Ofsted’s new grading system) 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 with at least 10% of pupils of other denominations, faiths or none.

In assessing the excellence of a school or college we also consider the local context, including deprivation measures and previous Wolfson support in the same region within the last five years. be for new build, refurbishment work or technical equipment be focussed on the teaching of one or more of the following subjects at GCSE and A-Level: science, computer science, design & technology, art, languages, music and performing arts.

and have one or more of the following aims: improved quality of teaching and learning spaces for subjects which require specialist facilities and technical equipment increased numbers of students taking these subjects improved learning outcomes for students taking these subjects.

Other programmes that may be of interest Special needs schools & colleges Examples of ineligible projects and costs include: General auditorium refurbishments General IT infrastructure and classrooms General building improvements 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. Running costs, including vehicle fuel and maintenance Film, websites or promotional materials Projects that have already been completed or will be by the time of award.

In 2026 we are continuing with a one-stage application process for this funding programme. Our 2026 funding round is now closed. We expect to share the dates and details of our next funding round in spring 2027.

Applications are submitted online, via our online application system . If the applicant school or college is a member of a multi-academy trust (MAT), the application should be submitted by the MAT MATs are only allowed to submit one application each funding round If you are not part of a MAT Applications should be submitted by the school or college itself, not a fundraising body.

Information required will include: a brief description of the project, including the total cost the current funding shortfall It is important that the application comes with the full backing of the institution and you will be asked to confirm that it has the support of both the Chief Executive of the MAT (if applicable) and the Headteacher of the school or college.

See the list of questions you will be asked to complete in your online application . Matching funds may include funds raised towards elements of the capital project that are not eligible for Wolfson funding (e.g. contingency). They should not be for funds raised towards staff costs or core funding.

If you will need additional funding to deliver the project but have not yet secured this, you should give details of your fundraising strategy for raising the balance. Any necessary planning permission should be in place. If you have not yet received formal planning permission but you think it may be granted soon, please contact us for advice.

Grants are not made retrospectively, so your project must not have been completed at the time that a funding decision is made. How applications are assessed Your application will be assessed according to: the eligibility and level of excellence of the school or college the eligibility of the proposed project the timescale for fundraising and undertaking the project.

We work with educational data specialists SchoolDash to support this process. If we can consider your application further, it will then be assessed by our expert panel who will make grant recommendations. If we require any additional information to support the assessment of your application, we will be in touch.

Schools that are a member of a multi-academy trust (MAT) should apply through their MAT. MATs are allowed to submit up to one application each funding round and the five year reapplication waiting period applies to the school within the MAT, not the MAT itself. If a MAT has multiple schools they are considering for an application, they are welcome to phone the grants team for advice.

If you have been turned down at Stage 2, you should wait until at least one year has passed before submitting a new application for a different project. We expect to share the dates and details of our next funding round in spring 2027. Grants are not made retrospectively , so your project must not have been completed at the time that a funding decision is made.

Background and case studies The Queen Katherine School State-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges Location of applicant and project: New build, refurbishment and technical equipment £15,000 – £50,000 (for equipment) £15,000 – £100,000 (for new build and refurbishment) If total project cost is <£50,000, no match funding is required If total project cost is >£50,000, some matched funds should be in place.

We do not require a specific amount of matched funds for projects on this scale, but we want to see that enough funding is in place to make the project viable and deliverable If total project cost is >£1 million, 25% match funding is required Our 2026 funding round is now closed. We expect to share the dates and details of our next funding round in spring 2027. Decisions for our 2026 funding round will be made in November 2026.

Projects must not be completed before a funding decision is made. Wolfson funding programme: Ready to start application? If you have checked you are eligible and understand the application process and timescale, you can start your application.

Start your application Apply for funding Returning to your application? Applicant login Continue an application Please contact us if you have a question about applying. Email: grants@wolfson.

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