Academy trusts could receive up to 拢750,000 to take on at least five schools in underperforming areas. And it seems they will no longer be penalised for 鈥渆xcessive executive pay鈥� when bidding for expansion cash. The Department for Educationguidance for the next waves of its 鈥渢rust capacity fund鈥� (TCaF), worth 拢86 million over three years. A new strand from this year will be worth up to 拢750,000 over two years for trusts that take on at least five schools, one of which must be 鈥榠nadequate鈥� or 鈥榬equires improvement鈥� in one of the government鈥檚 education investment areas (EIAs). The cash is also available for those wanting to form a new multi-academy trust with at least five schools in EIAs. The amount on offer for smaller expansion projects has also risen. Those taking on at least one school with a less than 鈥榞ood鈥� rating in an EIA will receive up to 拢500,000 over two years, up from 拢300,000 in previous waves. Trusts taking on a struggling school outside an EIA will get up to 拢250,000, up from 拢200,000. The maximum 鈥渃apacity giver鈥� grant for trusts taking on 鈥榞ood鈥� or 鈥榦utstanding鈥� schools outside an EIA remains at 拢100,000. Previously, trusts that received letters from the DfE on 鈥渆xcessive executive pay鈥� could have points deducted from their applications for expansion cash. But this did not feature in the most recent application guidance. The DfE said it was reviewing its 鈥渓ong-term approach to challenging comparatively high pay and, in the meantime, we are keeping this guidance under close review鈥�. ‘More strategic approach’ welcomed A new has also been launched to help expansion projects in their early stages. Up to 拢50,000 is up for grabs if trusts are planning to take on a minimum of three schools in any area. Leora Cruddas, the chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, welcomed 鈥渢his new more strategic approach鈥� to capacity funding. 鈥淲e are particularly encouraged by strands one and two of TCaF where funding is available over two financial years, with larger grants sizes.鈥� In total, 103 trusts won funding in window two of last year鈥檚 bidding rounds, totalling 拢15.1 million. It takes the total for last year鈥檚 grants to 拢33.7 million. Truro and Penwith Academy Trust landed the largest grant at 拢430,950. Futura Learning Partnership, Wessex Multi-Academy Trust and Wimborne Academy Trust received 拢300,000 each.