Schools are in danger of being short-changed by the government’s
proposed overhaul of funding, the Association of School and
College Leaders (ASCL) warned today. (Monday 16 January 2017)
ASCL fully supports the introduction of a new funding formula to
address long-standing problems about huge variations in funding
levels in different areas of England. However, it is concerned
that the formula proposed by the government sets the basic level
of funding too low. An increase in school funding is needed, and
it is needed now.
The proposed funding formula consists of basic per-pupil funding,
plus additional allocations for factors such as deprivation and
low prior attainment.
The basic per-pupil funding would be £2,712 for primary-age
children, £3,797 for 11-14 year olds, and £4,312 for 14-16 year
olds.
ASCL Interim General Secretary Malcolm Trobe said: “We are
concerned that the basic funding level will be too low and that
schools will be short-changed by the new formula.
“Some schools in poorly funded areas which are already struggling
to make ends meet will see no uplift in their finances. In some
cases they may even see reduced budgets.*
“Of course, we need to give schools more money to tackle
deprivation and low prior attainment. That is essential. But the
basic level of funding has to be right for all schools to enable
them to put teachers in front of classes.
“The problem is that school funding per pupil has now been frozen
for many years in most areas of the country. Costs have risen
significantly and are continuing to do so. The government is
trying to slice up a cake which is too small. It needs to put
more money into the system and make education a political
priority.”
*For example, Cheshire East and Trafford, both in the lowest 10
funded areas in 2016-17, are projected to lose under the new
formula: Cheshire East - minus 2.1%; Trafford - minus 0.4%.
