It would be unwise to try and apply a national funding formula to growth as this funding must be provided to schools and academies in real time and be responsive to local needs/LA statutory responsibilities and it would be too expensive to try and capture such information nationally. Ideally the DfE should fund LAs for growth rather than LAs taking a top slice from schools DSG. One way the DfE could do this by using the data underpinning the LA basic need capital allocations, which includes estimates of planned growth. An alternative method would be to compare Oct census data between two years and fund LAs on that increase, although this method would be time lagged and therefore not ideal. Building block D: geographic costs The area cost adjustment is explained on pages 37 to 39 of the consultation. Do you agree that we should include an area cost adjustment? Yes No Which methodology for the area cost adjustment do you support? general labour market methodology hybrid methodology Please provide any further comments: The hybrid methodology seems the fairest method. The general labour market methodology over funds the additional teacher costs in high cost areas (e.g. London) and is at odds with the DfE principle of fair national funding. Factors not included in the formula you agree that we should target support for looked-after children and those who have left care via adoption, special guardianship or a care arrangements order through the pupil premium plus, rather than include a looked-after children factor in the national funding formula? Our proposal for funding these children is on pages 39 to 41 of the consultation. Yes No Please provide any further comments: Whilst we support the proposal to target support for looked-after children and those who have left care via adoption, special guardianship or a care arrangements order through the pupil premium plus, this is on the basis that the current amount of DSG being spent nationally on LACs is removed and transferred into the PP plus. We would not want to see any reduction in the
It would be unwise to try and apply a national funding formula to growth as this funding must be provided to schools and academies in real time and be responsive to local needs/LA statutory responsibilities and it would be too expensive to try and capture such information nationally. Ideally the DfE should fund LAs for growth rather than LAs taking a top slice from schools DSG. One way the DfE could do this by using the data underpinning the LA basic need capital allocations, which includes estimates of planned growth. An alternative method would be to compare Oct census data between two years and fund LAs on that increase, although this method would be time lagged and therefore not ideal. Building block D: geographic costs The area cost adjustment is explained on pages 37 to 39 of the consultation. Do you agree that we should include an area cost adjustment? Yes No Which methodology for the area cost adjustment do you support? general labour market methodology hybrid methodology Please provide any further comments: The hybrid methodology seems the fairest method. The general labour market methodology over funds the additional teacher costs in high cost areas (e.g. London) and is at odds with the DfE principle of fair national funding. Factors not included in the formula you agree that we should target support for looked-after children and those who have left care via adoption, special guardianship or a care arrangements order through the pupil premium plus, rather than include a looked-after children factor in the national funding formula? Our proposal for funding these children is on pages 39 to 41 of the consultation. Yes No Please provide any further comments: Whilst we support the proposal to target support for looked-after children and those who have left care via adoption, special guardianship or a care arrangements order through the pupil premium plus, this is on the basis that the current amount of DSG being spent nationally on LACs is removed and transferred into the PP plus. We would not want to see any reduction in the
Schools-National-Funding-Formula-Consultation-Response-Form.docx