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Dedicated Schools Grant Formula Review
In late 2008, the government launched a major review of the DSG funding formula. This continued throughout 2009, with the government commissioning research and gathering evidence from local authorities and special interest groups, including f40.
On 15th March 2010, the government announced the outcomes of its review and formally launced a three-month consultaion on its proposals for a new distribution formula.
Click for background to the review.
More about the government's review is available on Teachernet.gov.uk
The consultation
The government issued its report "Consultation on the future distribution of school funding" and launched a three-month consultation, which closed on 7th June 2010.
f40 commissioned financial consultant, Lindsey Wharmby, to prepare the Group's response to the consultation. This was endorsed by the f40 executive committee on Saturday 8th May 2010.
Click here to read consultation questions.
See latest news releases.
f40 has created a powerpoint presentation about the funding review and consultation.
f40 background consultancy and evidence
The task of producing evidence for consideration during the review has been considerable. The group appointed Lindsey Wharmby, a specialist education consultant, to assist in this work.
View f40 consultancy and evidence papers
f40 submission
To view f40's submission to the consultation click here.
All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry - February 2010
On 23 February 2010, F40 presented its case for fairer funding for education to an All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry on rural services. F40 was one of several special interest groups concerned about the delivery of rural services and the threat to the funding of rural schools that gave evidence to an eminent panel of Parliamentarians and rural advocates. Also see news release.
Devon County Council also gave evidence to the Inquiry.
The Inquiry’s report “The implications of national funding formulae for rural health and education provision” was published on 2 April. In it, MPs warn that government funding for health and education discriminates against rural people and that national funding formulae are inadequate, providing less money for each rural pupil and patient. This is despite the higher cost of achieving equitable service outcomes in rural areas compared to larger towns and cities. A full copy of the document can be downloaded here.
Cost pressures - correspondence with the Secretary of State
On the 8 March 2010, f40 wrote to Ed Balls (with a copy to the Schools Minister Vernon Coaker) to express disappointment that the promised funding formula consultation had not materialized (it was launched a week later on 15 March 2010) and to flag up growing concerns among f40 member authorities about developing cost pressures affecting all authorities, but impacting more on the lowest funded.
Click here to read F40's initial letter and click here to read the government's response in the name of Schools Minister, Vernon Coaker MP.
Post election, f40 wrote to the new Schools Minister Nick Gibb MP, to re-state the Group's arguements in relation to developing cost pressures. This letter also refferred to f40's consultation submission and a request for a meeting at an early date.
F40 received a response to that letter from Lord Hill of Oareford, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools, who is responsible for funding matters.
