ATL comment on school funding in England

"A new national funding formula for schools must prioritise pupils with the greatest needs and this does not necessarily mean every school should be given the same funding.

“ATL is yet to be convinced that the Government can deliver a new funding formula which will help all children reach their potential regardless of where they live in the country. A new funding formula must prioritise the most deprived areas rather than be based on pleasing politicians who want their schools to have the same cut of the pie no matter how well-off or high achieving their area may be.

“Once again the Government’s timing is terrible. It has not left enough time for the new formulae to be confirmed to enable schools to begin to plan for next year, schools’ budgets have already been cut in real terms by 8%, and schools are struggling to cope with teacher shortages and higher pupil numbers.

“We caution David Cameron and Nicky Morgan about reducing the role of local authorities in school funding. The Government has already struggled to manage the huge centralisation of the academies programme, which has taken power and supervision of education away from local communities, and the Department for Education does not have a good track record managing its own accounts."