Posted on Tuesday 21st March 2017
Compared to other parts of the country, Staffordshire schools are underfunded.
This is due to the schools funding formula, which generally works in favour of cities and against towns and rural areas. For example:
- £6,920 is spent on every pupil in the City of London. This authority has the highest spending per pupil.
- £5,729 is spent on every pupil in Tameside, Greater Manchester. The highest spending outside of London.
- £3,363 is spent on every pupil in Blackpool. The lowest in the country.
- Around £4,200 is spent on every pupil in Staffordshire.
Of course, there are understandable reasons to have a difference in funding per student in areas where costs are higher – such as London. There are also arguments to suggest that children in poor areas should get more.
Funding for schools is about to change
Staffordshire County Council has been campaigning with other local councils to change how funding for students is allocated.
As a result, the Government has agreed to introduce a new formula from 2018/19 that increases the amount of funding Staffordshire schools receive.
Under the new proposals, average funding in Staffordshire schools will increase from around £4,200 to £4,280 per student. This will affect schools differently:
- 48 out of 56 secondary schools will see their funding increase.
- 178 out of 295 of primary schools will see their funding increase.
- 11 out of 14 middle schools will see funding decrease.
We think that more Staffordshire schools should be benefiting from these proposals than is currently outlined.
Local councillors and MPs have already made their concerns known through a consultation on the new proposals.
If you are interested you can view the proposals and respond to the consultation now.