CONSULTATION ON SCHOOL AND ACADEMY FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS 2015-16 Introduction This consultation relates to school funding arrangements for 2015-16. We are consulting on 12 questions. We welcome and seek the views of all schools, academies and other stakeholders within this consultation process. Even if you have a strong view on only one point we want to hear that view. This consultation is for all sectors (primary, secondary, nursery, special and education support centres), although some proposals only relate to particular sectors or groups of schools/academies. This is indicated in the text. The consultation closes on Tuesday 23rd September 2014. Responses must be submitted by electronic survey. The results will be considered by Schools in October. Background After the major national reforms of the last two years, 2015-16 will be a year of consolidation, with relatively few changes in school funding arrangements. The DfE will not be introducing a national funding formula (NFF) in 2015-16. The Minimum Funding Guarantee will continue to operate at 98.5%, providing protection for schools and academies against the ongoing impact of funding formula changes. Although academies receive most of funding directly from the Education Funding Agency, rather than the County Council, they are funded through the same formula and on the basis of the same budget decisions as maintained schools. Thus this consultation applies to both maintained schools and academies. Overview of the Consultation Document Schools and academies will continue to face significant budget pressures and we are carrying out a survey of the financial pressures that schools/academies are facing, to inform the budget process for 2015-16. Section 1 of the consultation relates to this survey. Section 2 covers new delegation and changes to the primary and secondary funding formula in 2015-16. These comprise the delegation of the remaining central revenue budget for capital maintenance and a DfE change to the sparsity factor, which affects two middle schools. There is also a proposal to continue the capping of gains in the primary and secondary funding formula in 2015-16.
CONSULTATION ON SCHOOL AND ACADEMY FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS 2015-16 Introduction This consultation relates to school funding arrangements for 2015-16. We are consulting on 12 questions. We welcome and seek the views of all schools, academies and other stakeholders within this consultation process. Even if you have a strong view on only one point we want to hear that view. This consultation is for all sectors (primary, secondary, nursery, special and education support centres), although some proposals only relate to particular sectors or groups of schools/academies. This is indicated in the text. The consultation closes on Tuesday 23rd September 2014. Responses must be submitted by electronic survey. The results will be considered by Schools in October. Background After the major national reforms of the last two years, 2015-16 will be a year of consolidation, with relatively few changes in school funding arrangements. The DfE will not be introducing a national funding formula (NFF) in 2015-16. The Minimum Funding Guarantee will continue to operate at 98.5%, providing protection for schools and academies against the ongoing impact of funding formula changes. Although academies receive most of funding directly from the Education Funding Agency, rather than the County Council, they are funded through the same formula and on the basis of the same budget decisions as maintained schools. Thus this consultation applies to both maintained schools and academies. Overview of the Consultation Document Schools and academies will continue to face significant budget pressures and we are carrying out a survey of the financial pressures that schools/academies are facing, to inform the budget process for 2015-16. Section 1 of the consultation relates to this survey. Section 2 covers new delegation and changes to the primary and secondary funding formula in 2015-16. These comprise the delegation of the remaining central revenue budget for capital maintenance and a DfE change to the sparsity factor, which affects two middle schools. There is also a proposal to continue the capping of gains in the primary and secondary funding formula in 2015-16.