Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to (a) increase core schools' funding in (i) England and (ii) Hampshire and (b) introduce a fairer funding formula for schools.

My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced an additional £1.3 billion for schools and high needs across 2018-19 and 2019-20, in addition to the schools budget set at Spending Review 2015, on 17 July. As a result, core funding for schools will rise from almost £41 billion in 2017-18 to £42.4 billion in 2018-19 and £43.5 billion in 2019-20, representing an increase in the total schools budget of over 6% between this year and 2019-20. This means funding per pupil will now be maintained in real terms for the remaining two years of this Spending Review.

We have now announced details of the new national funding formulae, meaning that from April 2018 funding will finally be allocated on a fair and transparent basis. We have announced the funding that will be allocated for all schools in England, including schools in Hampshire, under the formula. Full details are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-funding-formula-tables-for-schools-and-high-needs.

Together these reforms will give schools a firm foundation that will enable them to continue to raise standards, promote social mobility, and give every child the best possible education.