Schools given ‘historic reform’ in national funding

Schools given ‘historic reform’ in national funding

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.