The Secretary of State for Education has announced the Government’s decisions on the new national funding formula for schools, which will come into effect from April 2018, with an increase in funding for all schools. Locally, the new funding formula sees an average 3.8 per cent extra funding for Wealden’s schools, over and above standard annual increases, with some schools receiving 8 per cent increases.
The announced increase comes in the wake of intense lobbying at district, county and governmental levels by local teachers and parents, councillors and Nus Ghani MP, over the previous funding formula proposals which did not properly meet the needs of rural schools. Nus has made numerous representations over the years to her Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education as well as hosting a group schools meeting Crowborough earlier this year.
The new formula will replace the current unfair and outdated funding system that sees schools in each area of the country receiving very different amounts of money. From now on, the resources that the Government is investing in schools will be distributed based on the individual needs and characteristics of every school: directing resources to where they are most needed and delivering greater transparency.
The core funding underpinning the national funding formulae is set to rise from almost £41 billion in 2017-8 to £43.5 billion by 2019-20. This means that some schools in Wealden will receive up to an 8 per cent increase in funding.
The new formula not only increases per pupil funding, but also takes into account the needs of schools catering for special needs children and the alternative provision for those who cannot attend mainstream schools.
Commenting on the announcement, Ms Ghani said: “The new funding formula has come about as part of team effort. It is a huge achievement that schools across Wealden will all see an increase in both pupil-led funding and total funding, with some receiving an increase of as much as 8 per cent.
And as the lead MP for the F40 group in East Sussex, I am aware of the unique needs of schools in Wealden and I have fully sympathised with many of the concerns expressed by local head teachers over the old funding formula proposals.
It is a testament to the quality and dedication of the teachers in Wealden that local students achieved such impressive GCSE and A-Level results in August.
The big change which I pushed for in the new formula was a higher percentage of funding to go to each child and I am delighted that this is being delivered.
Local school funding is now firmly on the up and I will continue to campaign for schools across Wealden to get the best deal possible.”
Cllr Bob Standley, East Sussex Lead Member for Education and ISEND said: “The County Council has been very active in lobbying government to get a fairer funding arrangement both directly and through the national f40 group, of which East Sussex County Council is a member. The funding announcement is welcome although we need to see the detail of the proposals for individual schools.”
Further information about the announcement can be found on the Department for Education’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-funding-formula-for-schools-and-high-needs
