Department for Education (DfE), Schools Water Strategy

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in Schools Grant Scheme (FY 2027-28)

A Department for Education match-funded grant covering up to 50% of the cost of designing and installing sustainable drainage (SuDS) features on school sites in England, to reduce surface water flood risk. Non-profit organisations can apply as 'delivery providers', as can Lead Local Flood Authorities, water companies and state-funded or voluntary aided schools. Schemes range from downpipe planters to rain gardens, tree pits, swales and detention basins, and the provider must also deliver an educational session at each school.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £10,000 – £1,000,000
Closes in: 15 days left; 2 November
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Eligible 'delivery providers': Lead Local Flood Authorities; water companies; non-profit organisations; state-funded schools in England (nursery, primary, secondary and alternative provision); and voluntary aided schools in England
All providers and project contributors go through DfE due diligence
Applicants must match fund at least 50% of total SuDS costs, from their own organisation or third parties (third-party contributors must be named with company or charity numbers)
They must accept payment in arrears, agree the standard KPIs, deliver an educational session on the installed features at each school, and pass mandatory and discretionary exclusion checks, including a modern slavery statement where relevant
Individual schools are encouraged to join a larger bid led by their LLFA, water company or a non-profit rather than bid alone

What it funds

Up to 50% of the SuDS-related costs of projects that both design and install SuDS features at one or more state-funded schools in England, from small downpipe planters to schemes combining planters, rain gardens, bioretention tree pits, swales and detention basins

Projects can stand alone or form part of a wider set of works, but DfE funds only the SuDS element.

Work runs in two phases (design, then installation), and the SuDS elements must finish within three financial years.

Payment is in arrears against KPIs (design KPIs 2 and 3, installation KPI 6).

Grant recipients are expected to engage qualified professionals, and designs must comply with CIRIA C753 or an equivalent.

What it will not fund

Non-SuDS elements of a wider project
More than 50% of total SuDS project costs
Design-only or installation-only applications (both stages are required)
Schemes whose DfE-funded SuDS elements take longer than 3 financial years
Schools scheduled for rebuilding within 3-5 years under the School Rebuilding Programme (removed before assessment)
Match funding from private individuals
Applicants convicted of offences under the Public Procurement mandatory exclusion grounds

How to apply

Read the grant page and supporting information: Annex 1 (SuDS categories and flood risk examples), Information on the Award Criteria, and the DfE Grant Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions
Identify the schools and gather evidence of each school's flood risk or history and its interest in the project
Complete the DfE SuDS in Schools Grant Funding Application for FY 2027-28 form
Email the Application Checklist, the School List Supporting Document and the supporting evidence to DfE by 5pm on 2 November 2026

The question form closed on 25 Sep 2026; answers are due to be published on 2 Oct 2026. For access problems or unclear information, email SuDS.mailbox@education.gov.uk.

Applications go through an initial sift, discretionary exclusion checks and scoring (flood history 30%, benefits 30%, costs 17.5%, greenspace inequality and deprivation 10%, project stage 7.5%, number of schools 5%), with a 20% minimum score.

Have ready

DfE SuDS in Schools Grant Funding Application form for FY 2027-28
Application Checklist (Word template attached to the advert)
School List Supporting Document (spreadsheet with each school's URN, name and postcode)
Evidence of flood risk or flood history for every school in the application
Evidence that each school has expressed an interest (an email from the school is enough)
Details of any third-party match funding contributors and amounts
Modern slavery statement (if relevant)

For non-profits, confirmation of whether you can recover VAT on the SuDS works is also required.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.