School funding to be made fairer and clearer

Nick Gibb has said that school funding will be made simpler, fairer and more transport as a result of government efforts to ‘level up’ education.

The government currently provides funding for schools according to a formula that takes account of factors including the needs of individual pupils and much more. But each local council sets its own formula for how to distribute that funding between schools in its area. It means similar schools can get different levels of funding – just because they happen to be in different parts of the country.

Now, the government is launching a consultation that seeks views on how to simplify that process and, ensure all schools are funded on a single, fair and consistent basis.

The proposals will also help to underpin the government’s ambition for all schools to be part of a strong multi-academy trust, meaning all schools within a multi academy trust will be funded on a consistent basis, regardless of which local authority they happen to be located in. This will provide trusts with the predictability needed to make the best use of resources and drive up academic standards.

Gibb said: “Parents and families deserve to know that the extra money we are putting into the education system is benefitting their children, wherever they live. We are delivering the biggest increase in school funding in a decade, with total additional funding of over £14 billion over three years – but it is important the money is distributed fairly.

“We’ve already taken significant steps by removing the postcode lottery of the previous funding system but now it is time to go further and make the system simpler and more transparent – and ensure every school is treated fairly, wherever it is in the country.”