Osborne said the government would consult on a formula, to be introduced in 2015/16, that would allocate money to schools based on pupils’ needs, including how many are deprived.
“School funding across the country is not equally distributed, but distributed on a historical basis with no logical reason,” said Osborne.
“Now the lowest-funded local authorities in this country will at last receive an increase in their per-pupil funding as we introduce a national funding formula to ensure that no child in any part of our country is discriminated against.”
Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary for policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, said the move was a “positive step”.
“We have been pushing for a new funding formula for some time,” said Trobe.
“The current distribution system is not fit for purpose – it delivers different funding levels to schools that are in the same or similar circumstances.
“I would urge them to move towards this as quickly as possible because all the time the government fails to address this issue the funding differentials increase in real terms.”
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, also backed the plan.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
