Applications for MAT Development and Improvement Fund opens
The Multi-academy trust (MAT) Development and Improvement Fund (MDIF) is now open to applications, which aims to give trusts extra funding in order to improve schools and increase social mobility.
The grants will be awarded for activities starting before 31 March 2018 and will usually be between £50,000 and £100,000.
Money issued by the Department for Education (DfE) can be used to set up or expand and academy trust and its organisational structures, including covering legal costs, and provide continuous professional development training for the trust’s leadership team.
In addition, it can be used for teaching and leadership staff to work across the trust; provide accountancy, finance and business management or HR advice; and establish robust reporting mechanisms to monitor pupils performance and identify specific development gaps.
Successful applicants have to report their activity and the effect it’s having on the school for 12 months from the point they receive their funding.
This is a finite award and beneficiaries must be able to show how they will sustain any activity paid for by the award after the funding period.
All trusts, including those awaiting sponsor or trust approval, are eligible to apply.
Those that wish to apply must take into your trust and improve at least two additional schools or form a new MAT of two schools or more and improve them within the next 12 months.
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