Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Monday, 21 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2005. It was answered by Stephen Twigg (Labour) on Thursday, 24 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what criteria are used in allocating funding per pupil in comparable local education authorities.

Answer: Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used in allocating funding per pupil in comparable local education authorities. [223830] Mr. Stephen Twigg: The formula for distributing funding for schools to local authorities is the School Formula Spending Share (SFSS). It comprises a basic entitlement for each comparable pupil, which is the same across the country, plus top-ups for areas where it costs more to recruit and retain staff; areas with sparse populations; and a top-up for each pupil with additional educational needs. The factor for additional educational needs takes account of the percentage of families in receipt of income support and of those in receipt of the working families tax credit. It also takes account of primary pupils with English as a second language and secondary pupils from low achieving ethnic minority groups. The funding that individual schools receive is a matter for local authorities through their locally agreed funding formulae.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1010W;432 c1009W; 223830
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Finance Local education authorities Pupils Schools Per capita costs
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk