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Tory MPs push for money to be switched from urban to rural schools Tory MPs push for money to be switched from urban to rural schools
(35 minutes later)
Schools in London, Manchester and Birmingham could see their funding cut and diverted to schools in rural and shire areas under proposals for a national funding formula supported by a group of backbench Conservative MPs.Schools in London, Manchester and Birmingham could see their funding cut and diverted to schools in rural and shire areas under proposals for a national funding formula supported by a group of backbench Conservative MPs.
The group of MPs – centred around the f40 education funding campaign group – is calling for “radical changes” to the way that school funding is calculated, which currently sees inner city schools receiving £2,000 or £3,000 more per pupil each year than schools in more rural regions. The group of MPs – centred on the f40 education funding campaign group – is calling for radical changes to the way that school funding is calculated, which currently sees inner city schools receiving £2,000 or £3,000 more per pupil each year than schools in more rural regions.
The MPs are urging that changes to the funding formula in England are announced by the Department for Education in time for them to be included in next year’s spending round negotiations.The MPs are urging that changes to the funding formula in England are announced by the Department for Education in time for them to be included in next year’s spending round negotiations.
Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, told the BBC’s World At One that school funding reform was “an overarching priority of Conservative backbench MPs”, who were likely to become militant over the issue unless significant progress was made. Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, told the BBC’s The World at One that school funding reform was “an overarching priority of Conservative backbench MPs”, who were likely to become militant over the issue unless significant progress was made.
Local authorities are currently receiving funding based on historic calculations. Urban schools receive a higher proportion than their suburban neighbours: schools in Birmingham will get £5,218 per pupil next year while schools in neighbouring Solihull receive just £4,237 per pupil. Manchester schools receive £5,088 under the current formula, while nearby Trafford receives £4,232.Local authorities are currently receiving funding based on historic calculations. Urban schools receive a higher proportion than their suburban neighbours: schools in Birmingham will get £5,218 per pupil next year while schools in neighbouring Solihull receive just £4,237 per pupil. Manchester schools receive £5,088 under the current formula, while nearby Trafford receives £4,232.
London boroughs receive the highest funding, reflecting the higher costs of operating in the city. The City of London receives the most of any local authority, with £8,600 per pupil, followed by Tower Hamlets with £7,014 and Hackney with £6,680.London boroughs receive the highest funding, reflecting the higher costs of operating in the city. The City of London receives the most of any local authority, with £8,600 per pupil, followed by Tower Hamlets with £7,014 and Hackney with £6,680.
The worst-off local authorities are those in predominantly rural areas, with Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire and South Gloucestershire all receiving less than £4,000 per pupil in the current school year.The worst-off local authorities are those in predominantly rural areas, with Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire and South Gloucestershire all receiving less than £4,000 per pupil in the current school year.
Campaigners such as the f40 group say they want funds allocated more evenly across England, based on a core entitlement per pupil and adjusted in areas of deprivation or for special needs.Campaigners such as the f40 group say they want funds allocated more evenly across England, based on a core entitlement per pupil and adjusted in areas of deprivation or for special needs.
“The differences in funding between schools with the same characteristics can be massive – twice as much as the pupil premium – and the scale of this gap cannot be justified,” said Russell Hobby, head of the National Association of Head Teachers.“The differences in funding between schools with the same characteristics can be massive – twice as much as the pupil premium – and the scale of this gap cannot be justified,” said Russell Hobby, head of the National Association of Head Teachers.
A DfE spokesperson said the previous government made considerable changes to school funding, with £390m allocated in 2014 to the worst-funded areas in the country.A DfE spokesperson said the previous government made considerable changes to school funding, with £390m allocated in 2014 to the worst-funded areas in the country.
“But we recognise there is still work to do, which is why we have committed to looking at what more needs to be done to ensure that all local areas are funded justly,” the spokesperson said.“But we recognise there is still work to do, which is why we have committed to looking at what more needs to be done to ensure that all local areas are funded justly,” the spokesperson said.
Union leaders warned that any changes to the formula should take into account the budget cuts that schools and local authorities face, with the government likely to stick with its pre-election pledge to freeze per pupil funding.Union leaders warned that any changes to the formula should take into account the budget cuts that schools and local authorities face, with the government likely to stick with its pre-election pledge to freeze per pupil funding.
“A new funding formula has to be planned and introduced with great care to ensure that it is fair to all. It must produce per pupil funding that is sufficient, sustainable and equitable,” said Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. “A new funding formula has to be planned and introduced with great care to ensure that it is fair to all. It must produce per-pupil funding that is sufficient, sustainable and equitable,” said Malcolm Trobe, the deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “We are pleased that Conservative MPs are now awake to the fact that school funding is a problem. However, there is no area with too much money. Imposing cuts in one area to move funding to another would simply shift funding shortages around the system.” Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “We are pleased that Conservative MPs are now awake to the fact that school funding is a problem. However, there is no area with too much money. Imposing cuts in one area to move funding to another would simply shift funding shortages around the system.”
Matt Hancock, the Tory MP who was an education minister in the previous coalition, said: “We’ve got a new government and we no longer have to negotiate these things with Liberal Democrat MPs so we’re clear we want to see further progress on this.Matt Hancock, the Tory MP who was an education minister in the previous coalition, said: “We’ve got a new government and we no longer have to negotiate these things with Liberal Democrat MPs so we’re clear we want to see further progress on this.
“This needs to be done in a way that is careful, within tight budgets. It would be easy if we had loads of money to spray around.”“This needs to be done in a way that is careful, within tight budgets. It would be easy if we had loads of money to spray around.”