Schools given ‘historic reform’ in national funding

New national funding formula for schools in England

The government has revealed details of its new national funding formula for schools in England.

Education secretary, Justine Greening, told parliament that each school will attract at least 0.5% more per pupil in 2018-19, and 1% more in 2019-20, compared to its baseline.

Schools will also be set minimum funding levels, ensuring welcome relief for some poorly-funded schools. In 2019-20 all secondary schools will attract at least £4,800 per pupil, and all primary schools will attract at least £3,500 per pupil.

For 2018/19, secondary schools will attract at least £4,600, and primary schools £3,300; and then the full amounts the following year.

Ms Greening also pledged that schools will receive cash directly from 202 onwards, rather than through formulae decided by local authorities.

She told MPs: “This is an historic reform. It means, for the first time, the resources that the government is investing in our schools will be distributed according to a formula based on the individual needs and characteristics of every school in the country.”

The new figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) showed the most underfunded schools will receive a rise of 3% per pupil in 2018-19 and 2019-20. A £110,000 lump sum is set for every school, with a further £26m distributed amongst rural schools in sparsity funding.

Councillor Donna Martin, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: “Though an increase in some schools funding areas is welcome, overall Rochdale is not seeing increases as high as other areas of the country and we are below the national average.

“There is also a reduction in the funding we receive to support schools which, together with reductions in general council funding, will impact on the level of support which can be provided to schools and our young people.

“We will be working very hard to continue to provide the best possible education for all our children during these difficult budget times.”

Responding to this announcement, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, Councillor Richard Watts said: “The Local Government Association has long called for fairer funding for all schools and for councils to be able to work with schools to set budgets that reflect local need.

“We are therefore pleased that the Government has recognised the important role councils can play in the introduction of the national funding formula by giving councils and schools the flexibility to set budgets locally. This will help schools and local areas adapt to the new formula in the long term.

“Councils have been concerned for some time about the growing funding pressures facing support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It is therefore right that the Government has allowed councils to retain the ability to make additional funding available, with the agreement of schools, to meet the rising demand and pressures for SEND support.

“However, asking schools to meet the shortfall in central government funding for this vulnerable group is not sustainable in the long term, particularly given the huge pressures facings schools’ core budgets.

“Councils are calling on government to launch a fundamental review of high needs funding in order to ensure we meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.”