Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

School Funding

Monday 23 October 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government introduced the national funding formula to fund schools based on pupil needs.
  • School budgets are up by over 3.9 billion for the 2023-24 academic year.
  • Worcestershire will receive more than 89 million for its high needs budget next year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Education
Context

Question arises from concerns about adequacy of core school funding in the current academic year.

Question

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of core school funding for the 2023-24 academic year?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Government introduced fairness into school funding with the national funding formula, which funds schools fairly and objectively based on pupil needs. This year, school budgets are up by over £3.9 billion, and next year they will be funded at their highest level in history, at £59.6 billion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide an assessment of adequacy specifically for 2023-24 academic year.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Mark Garnier Con Wyre Forest
Children & Families
Context

Worcestershire County Council faces a deficit of over £20 million in high needs and special educational needs budgets.

Question

Can the Secretary of State do something to help counties like Worcestershire, which face significant deficits in their high needs budget?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

High needs funding is set to increase by 60% between 2019-20 and 2024-25. Next year, Worcestershire will receive more than £89 million for its high needs budget. The Department supports local authorities through the Safety Valve programme and the Delivering Better Value in SEND initiative.

Answered
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Q3 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Education
Context

A recent accounting error by the Secretary of State's Department will result in a cut of more than £2.5 million for schools in Bristol.

Question

The Prime Minister promised education as a main funding priority, but the error reflects current budget cuts; how does the Secretary of State see the impact on already-strained school budgets?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Department acted quickly to correct an error in July notional national funding formula figures. There is no cut: £59.6 billion will fund schools next year. An independent external review of the quality assurance processes will be led by Peter Wyman, chair of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not acknowledge the impact on already-strained budgets.

How: Under Review

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Q4 Robin Walker Con
Education
Context

The complexity of the current system means that no actual money was lost to schools due to a recent error.

Question

When do Ministers expect to be able to legislate to put in place a direct funding flow to schools as promised?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

It is our intention to legislate, but I cannot give a date for that at the Dispatch Box. I will keep my hon. Friend informed.

How: Too Early To Say

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Q5 Andrew Bridgen Con
Education
Context

Despite delivering the highest economic growth in the country, North West Leicestershire has consistently low per-pupil funding.

Question

Does the Secretary of State have any words of comfort for constituents facing very low per-pupil funding despite high economic growth?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The introduction of the NFF will direct resources according to need. Funding has been redistributed to catch up with these changes, targeting those with the highest number of pupils with additional needs via the NFF.

Answered
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