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Schools Funding Formula Survey

Annual consultation on the Schools Funding formula.

1.  

Which sector do you represent?

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School Funding Formula Affordability, if insufficient funding


If the initial formula allocations using the full NFF factor rates proves unaffordable, the Local Authority proposes:


To initially reduce the level of the annual contribution to the Growth Fund as this will not affect the formula factor rates that schools receive. The growth fund is funding set aside to support new and growing schools and bulge classes. Reducing the growth fund on a one-off basis will not reduce the amount paid to schools eligible for growth funding. 


This is the council's preferred option but may not be sufficient. 

 

An alternative option is to set the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) at a level lower than the maximum allowed – The MFG protects the per-pupil funding of schools from one year to the next.  In 2025-26, Local Authorities had the flexibility to set MFG between -0.5% (minimum) and plus 0% (maximum). DfE have not published the flexibility for 2026-27 as yet.  In order to maximise the funding passed to schools the authority propose to set at maximum MFG level.  However, should this not be affordable, the MFG percentage could be reduced toward the minimum level set for 2026-27.  It may be necessary to combine this MFG option with the reduction of Growth Fund option above to achieve affordability, or combine with other options.


The council has two other options, that is reducing the basic per pupil funding rate (the age weighted pupil unit) or all the per pupil factors equally on a percentage. 


Reducing the basic per pupil rate, the age weighted pupil unit, will impact c.60% of schools whereas reducing all the per pupil factors equally on a percentage will spread the reductions across more schools.

3.  

School Funding Formula Affordability, if insufficient funding

If the initial formula allocations using the full NFF factor rates proves unaffordable, please rank the following options from 1 - most preferred to 4 - least preferred options for the Local Authority.

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Use of surplus funding after delivering the NFF in full

The overall Schools Block level of funding maybe more than enough to deliver the  NFF level of funding in full. There may, therefore, be one-off funding available in  2026-27.

The Local Authority preference will be to increase funding factor rate(s) for  schools on a one-off basis.

5.  

Use of surplus funding after delivering the NFF in full:


Do you agree, that should there be a surplus of funding that the authority increase funding factor rates for schools on a one-off basis, and do you have an opinion on which factor, should be agreed. (Per pupil funding, pupil mobility, sparsity, deprivation, low prior attainment,  English as an additional language, lump sum and split sites).

Schools Block disapplications regarding Exceptional Circumstances 

There have been long standing prior year disapplications agreed within the Schools Block for exceptional rents where the rent for a school exceeds 1% of their school budget share. The same disapplication has been made for 26/27 for the current four relevant schools and has a £0.05m approximate cost.