Section 8
8.GEMS condition grades A to D and their CIF scoring weight
GEMS grades describe the physical condition of each element of the school estate. They drive the Need 60 sub-band of the CIF scoresheet.[5]
8.1Grade definitions
| Grade | Plain meaning | Indicative CIF Need weight |
|---|---|---|
| A | Good. New or refurbished, performing as designed. | Negligible |
| B | Satisfactory. Minor deterioration, normal lifecycle maintenance. | Low |
| C | Poor. Major repair or replacement needed in the short to medium term. | Material |
| D | Bad. Life-expired, immediate replacement required. | High |
8.2How grades feed CIF scoring
The Need 60 band rewards bids where the affected element is graded C or D with corroborating CDC2 or independent surveyor evidence.[6]
8.3How ESFA assessors verify GEMS evidence
Assessors cross-reference the bid stated grade against CDC2 data held centrally, against the trust own condition surveys, and against photographic evidence in the submission.[2]
8.4Accessing your GEMS data
Trusts can request their school-level CDC2 report through the DfE estates portal; the report sets out element-by-element grades.[6]
Governor paper output
Render this page as a single-column A4 document with running headers and source register reconciliation stamp, suitable for inclusion in a trust board pack without re-formatting.