Chancellor promises an end to unfair per-pupil funding

A National Funding Formula for schools will be based on a “fair and rational” assessment of pupil need, including the number of disadvantaged children on roll, the chancellor has pledged.

School leaders have welcomed the news that the government intends to tackle the inequalities in per-pupil funding that exist between schools in different areas.

Chancellor George Osborne said the government would work towards the introduction of a national funding formula to end discrepancies that can amount to millions of pounds between schools.

However, questions have been raised about the “winners and losers” that changes to the funding system will create. 

Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Mr Osborne set out details of the government’s planned spending for 2015/16. He said the Department for Education’s (DfE) budget would increase from £52.8 billion in 2014/15 to £53.2 billion in 2015/16 and pledged that “schools spending will be protected in real terms”.