Issue - meetings

Councillor S A W Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education and Lifelong Learning presented the report of the Director: Education & Skills. It was reported that each year the local funding formula was reviewed for mainstream schools in the context of revisions to Department for Education (DfE) regulations or any other relevant developments.  The Council made the final decision on the funding formula having consulted with schools and the Schools Forum regarding any changes.  The local funding formula applied both to academies and maintained schools and in 2021/22 would determine the distribution of around £137m of funding, which included an additional allocation of approximately £12m for schools, of which £6m was for mainstreaming of existing teachers’ pay grants.

The revised funding formula had to be submitted to the DfE agency - the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) by 21 January 2021.  The report sought Cabinet approval for the proposed 2021/22 funding formula for Telford & Wrekin mainstream schools.

RESOLVED that the 2021/22 funding formula for Telford & Wrekin mainstream schools, as consulted on with the Schools Forum, be approved. The formula:

·         distributes an estimated £137m, a £12m increase compared to 2020/21;

·         includes a guaranteed increase per pupil of 2%, the maximum allowable by government;

·         where appropriate, supports growing schools by using estimated pupil numbers to determine funding, to avoid a lag in money reaching growing schools.