Education grants open this month (April 2026)
April 2026 education grants now open: major infrastructure funding available, plus opportunities for schools and training providers. Mid-month deadlines.
April brings a mixed bag for education organisations. The big money is flowing towards major infrastructure projects and university research, but there are solid opportunities for schools, training providers, and community groups running educational programmes. Several deadlines fall mid-month, so you'll need to move quickly.
Worth applying to
Post-16 and construction skills capacity funding: 2026 to 2030 in non-devolved areas
The Department for Education is offering up to £5 million per project from a £287 million pot for education and training providers. This covers capital funding for buildings, equipment, and facilities that boost post-16 education capacity, particularly in construction skills. Closes 17 April 2026. You need to be a further education college, training provider, or similar organisation in England (outside devolved areas). Don't apply if you're a school or community group.
Arts-based Learning Fund
Paul Hamlyn Foundation offers up to £300,000 over three years for arts and cultural organisations working directly with schools. This fund wants to see genuine partnerships where arts organisations help schools embed creative learning into their curriculum. Rolling deadline means you can apply anytime, but expect a competitive process. Perfect for theatres, museums, or arts charities with education programmes. Schools can't apply directly.
Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) School Improvement Grant
Up to £240,000 from the Department for Education for schools in England that Ofsted has flagged as needing improvement. This isn't for everyone - you need to be a maintained school, academy, or free school with specific improvement requirements. The funding covers leadership development, teaching quality improvements, and curriculum changes. Deadline is 1 April 2027, giving you time to prepare a strong application.
Healthy Holidays
Leeds Community Foundation offers up to £22,000 for community groups running holiday activities with healthy food provision for children. Closes 17 April 2026. You need to be working in Leeds and targeting children who receive free school meals. The fund covers activity costs, food, and some staffing. Schools can partner with community groups, but the community organisation needs to lead the application.
Also open
- What Works Centre for Children and Families - Competition Launch - Up to £85 million over 10 years, Department for Education. Major research centre contract, likely for large research institutions only.
- Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships - Up to £5 million, for universities bringing overseas professors to the UK.
- Research Leadership Awards - Up to £1 million, Leverhulme Trust. University early-career researchers only.
- Community Investment Fund - Up to £50,000, Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Community groups in Stoke-on-Trent for various projects including education.
- UKAEA Fusion Industrial Visiting Academic Scheme - Up to £30,000, for universities bringing industry professionals into fusion energy teaching.
- Fraisthorpe Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund - Up to £15,000, for community groups near Bridlington.
- Members Locality Budget - Up to £5,000, Hertfordshire County Council. Local councillor discretionary funding.
- Evishagaran and Craiggore Community Benefit Fund - Up to £4,000, for community projects near Dungiven.
- easyfundraising Impact Fund - Up to £500, small grants for not-for-profit organisations.
Several Scottish wind farm education and training funds are also open with rolling deadlines, offering bursaries to local residents for education and training costs.
Tips for education applications
Show measurable outcomes beyond participation numbers. Funders want to see how your project improves educational attainment, skills development, or employment prospects. Include baseline data and explain how you'll track progress over time.
Demonstrate genuine need in your area. Use local authority data, school statistics, or community surveys to prove demand for your project. Generic statements about "educational disadvantage" won't cut it when you're competing against organisations with hard evidence.
Budget for evaluation from day one. Education funders increasingly expect robust monitoring and evaluation. Factor in costs for data collection, analysis, and reporting. Many applications fail because they treat evaluation as an afterthought rather than a core project component.
Set up alerts for education grants to catch new opportunities as they open.