Under proposals published for consultation, the government has started the process of introducing a national funding formula for schools from 2017 to 2018. 

The government believes that the current system for the allocation of funds by local authorities is “outdated, inefficient and unfair” with many variations between geographical areas.  These new proposals represent a move towards a system where school funding is allocated on a consistent national formula so that no pupil is disadvantaged by where they live.

The plans will seek to ensure that every school is funded according to need and that funding gets straight to the “frontline” with the role of local authority removed. Local authorities will continue to receive funding to help with high-level special educational needs as they are well placed to make those local decisions.

The government will phase the changes in over time including retaining the local authority role in school funding until 2019-2020 - although the national funding formula will begin in 2017-2018.