Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure school funding reflects changes in the costs faced by schools.

For the first time school funding is being distributed according to a formula based on the individual needs and characteristics of every school in the country. This will direct resources where they are needed most, and provide transparency and predictability for schools. The formula is responsive to changes in pupil characteristics, and reflects differences in labour market costs.

The introduction of the national funding formulae is supported by significant extra investment of £1.3 billion across 2018-19 and 2019-20, over and above the budget announced at the 2015 spending review. As a result, per pupil funding will be maintained in real terms over the next two years.

The Department recognises that many schools have worked hard to manage the impact of cost pressures on their budgets up to this point. That is why the Department provides support, guidance and tools to help schools achieve the best value from their resources. Further details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/schools-financial-health-and-efficiency.