The funding to schools with post 16 pupils is to reflect the loss of funding contribution from the EFA towards teachers performance pay. The alternative would be that the DSG makes up the shortfall with a loss of funding available to other schools. The EFA funding contribution has been gradually reducing over the last 3 years, with 2013-14 the final year of funding. This was signposted to schools last year in the consultation paper, Schools Forum reports and in budget guidance notes for maintained schools. New for 2014-15, however, is that funding for this factor is now outside the MFG calculation so historic funding is not protected with schools seeing the funding impact of this change. The national regulations require only that the unit value of the post 16 factor is not increased in 2014-15 compared with 2013-14. However, it is known that the long term aim of the national funding formula is that it is to be for pre 16 pupils only so the use of the factor is clearly time limited and phasing out should begin. Removing the £86,000 funding contribution from the EFA from the post 16 funding factor will reduce the unit value by £50 to £254.67 in 2014-15. Next Steps for 2014-15 The provisional funding proforma set out in Appendix 1 will be sent to the DfE by 31 October 2013. The cap is forecast to be set at 0.5% to enable the MFG, for schools with lower per pupil funding, to be affordable. The size of the growth fund, a central contingency retained to meet basic need commissioned by the Local Authority, will need to be established. This is to provide funding where for example, classes have been added to schools for September 2014. The need to set aside a new central DSG budget to create a small fund to support schools with falling rolls in exceptional circumstances is to be reviewed. Schools Forum is required to agree any criteria, the amount set aside and assess applications. This funding is not to support falling rolls in unpopular schools and will be available to schools judged by Ofsted to be good or outstanding only (at the direction of the DfE). The need for a budget is currently considered unlikely. The above central DSG budgets will be considered in the light of the final October 2013 pupil census and school forecast pupil numbers for October 2014. Mainstream maintained schools de-delegations will also need to be considered by Schools Forum as last year and agreed for 2014-15.
The funding to schools with post 16 pupils is to reflect the loss of funding contribution from the EFA towards teachers performance pay. The alternative would be that the DSG makes up the shortfall with a loss of funding available to other schools. The EFA funding contribution has been gradually reducing over the last 3 years, with 2013-14 the final year of funding. This was signposted to schools last year in the consultation paper, Schools Forum reports and in budget guidance notes for maintained schools. New for 2014-15, however, is that funding for this factor is now outside the MFG calculation so historic funding is not protected with schools seeing the funding impact of this change. The national regulations require only that the unit value of the post 16 factor is not increased in 2014-15 compared with 2013-14. However, it is known that the long term aim of the national funding formula is that it is to be for pre 16 pupils only so the use of the factor is clearly time limited and phasing out should begin. Removing the £86,000 funding contribution from the EFA from the post 16 funding factor will reduce the unit value by £50 to £254.67 in 2014-15. Next Steps for 2014-15 The provisional funding proforma set out in Appendix 1 will be sent to the DfE by 31 October 2013. The cap is forecast to be set at 0.5% to enable the MFG, for schools with lower per pupil funding, to be affordable. The size of the growth fund, a central contingency retained to meet basic need commissioned by the Local Authority, will need to be established. This is to provide funding where for example, classes have been added to schools for September 2014. The need to set aside a new central DSG budget to create a small fund to support schools with falling rolls in exceptional circumstances is to be reviewed. Schools Forum is required to agree any criteria, the amount set aside and assess applications. This funding is not to support falling rolls in unpopular schools and will be available to schools judged by Ofsted to be good or outstanding only (at the direction of the DfE). The need for a budget is currently considered unlikely. The above central DSG budgets will be considered in the light of the final October 2013 pupil census and school forecast pupil numbers for October 2014. Mainstream maintained schools de-delegations will also need to be considered by Schools Forum as last year and agreed for 2014-15.
att20058.docx