Henry Smith MP has welcomed yesterday’s commitment from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to introduce a fair school funding formula as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

A new funding formula will set a national rate that every school will receive for each pupil, with additional funding for those with extra needs.

Speaking in Westminster after George Osborne’s Autumn Statement, Henry said;

“I’m grateful to school staff and parents of Crawley pupils who have signed my Crawley fair school funding petition – especially those who took the time to organise petition signings.

“My office and I are still going through all the signatures – I’m of course looking forward to presenting my petition in the House of Commons next week.”

The Government will introduce the first ever national funding formula for schools, high needs and early years, so that funding is transparently and fairly linked to children’s needs.

The announcement signals an end to the current unfair system, which has lasted for decades and led to a situation where the ten best funded areas of England receive an average of £6,300 per pupil of schools block funding, compared to just £4,200 in the ten worst funded areas – with no objective basis for the difference.

This reform will give schools more certainty over future budgets, empowering headteachers to take decisions for the long-term. The government will launch a detailed consultation in 2016 and implement the new formulae from 2017-18. There will be a transitional period to help smooth the implementation of the new formula.

Graham Stuart MP, Vice Chairman of the F40 Campaign representing the worst-funded authorities, commented;

“I am delighted that the Government has committed to introduce a national funding formula for English schools, ending the postcode lottery that means children in Crawley lose out for no good reason.

“I am very grateful to Henry Smith MP, who has played a big role as a Patron of the Fair School Funding Campaign. He has worked tirelessly to draw attention to the unfair funding gap and today’s announcement marks a real breakthrough.”

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Crawley MP launches school funding petition
2 November 2015