Commenting as the government today confirms core funding for
schools via the National Funding Formula, Paul Whiteman, general
secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:
"We need to remember that despite the government’s bold claims on
funding, independent analysis has shown that what it actually
amounts to is a 13 year real-terms freeze in school spending. At
best, it will only just about cover the cuts schools have
experienced since 2009.
“Furthermore, because of the way the government has chosen to
distribute funding, those schools serving the most deprived
pupils are losing out as the government has deliberately chosen
to weaken the link between funding and need. In effect, they have
undermined their own funding formula through their new minimum
funding arrangement. A recent National Audit Office report showed
that none of the most deprived fifth of schools were allocated an
increase in funding as a result of this new mechanism.
“It is also worth remembering that the government chose the
middle of a pandemic to implement a change in pupil premium
reporting that has meant thousands of children who would have
become eligible for free school meals and additional help due to
their families’ circumstances have been denied any additional
funding. Much of the government’s investment in recovery has
immediately been swallowed up by this ‘stealth cut’.
“In light of all this, talk of ‘levelling up’ starts to sound
very hollow indeed.
“Overall the government’s investment in schools during the
pandemic has been risible. Their recovery plan and the money put
into it was almost universally dismissed as miserly and
insufficient. It is very clear that education and children’s
futures are not a priority for this government.”
