2
Recommendation
Twenty-First Report - School Funding
Not Addressed
Under the national funding formula, schools that are more deprived have fared worse than those that are less deprived. In 2018–19, the Department introduced a national funding formula with the aim of allocating school funding more transparently, consistently and fairly across the country. The new formula has made allocations more …
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Under the national funding formula, schools that are more deprived have fared worse than those that are less deprived. In 2018–19, the Department introduced a national funding formula with the aim of allocating school funding more transparently, consistently and fairly across the country. The new formula has made allocations more transparent and consistent, but it has also led to a re-balancing of funding away from more deprived schools towards less deprived schools. Between 2017–18 and 2020–21, average per-pupil funding fell in real terms by 1.2% for the most deprived fifth of schools, but increased by 2.9% for the least deprived fifth. The Department highlights that funding allocations have been catching up with changes in patterns of deprivation across the country since the early 2000s. However, the relative re-distribution of funding is also the result of the Department introducing minimum per-pupil funding levels, which have benefited the least deprived schools. In July 2021, the Department began a consultation on moving to a ‘hard’ national funding formula under which it would set schools’ budgets directly. Recommendation: Before moving towards a hard national funding formula, the Department should publish an assessment of the likely impact of the proposed changes on individual schools and different types of schools.
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Government response AI summary
The government did not address the recommendation to publish an assessment of the likely impact of moving to a hard national funding formula on individual schools before its implementation, instead reiterating that the NFF distributes funding fairly and fixes a broken system.
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HM Treasury
1
Conclusion
Twenty-First Report - School Funding
Not Addressed
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Education (the Department) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (the ESFA) on school funding in England.1
Government response AI summary
The government response restates the committee's initial observation about taking evidence for the report, without addressing any specific findings or recommendations.
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HM Treasury
23
Conclusion
Twenty-First Report - School Funding
Not Addressed
We asked whether the Department was confident that the falling rolls fund had sufficient resources to help all the schools that might need support. The Department replied that there were mechanisms for the funding to vary according to local need and the context in a particular area.33 It also highlighted …
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We asked whether the Department was confident that the falling rolls fund had sufficient resources to help all the schools that might need support. The Department replied that there were mechanisms for the funding to vary according to local need and the context in a particular area.33 It also highlighted that it collected data every year from local authorities, at local planning area level across the country and forecasting years into the future, for the basic need and capital funding systems. It had a regular dialogue with the local authorities that were experiencing the biggest demographic changes and funding pressures.34 32 Q 62 33 Q 63 34 Qq 64–66 School Funding 13 2 Progress on departmental initiatives Review of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities
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Government response AI summary
The government response describes how local authorities may use falling rolls funds under existing policy, but does not address the committee's specific concern about the Department's confidence in the fund's sufficiency or the adequacy of support.
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HM Treasury