Gove has ‘bottled’ funding decision say critics

The Department for Education announced yesterday that a new formula will not be developed until after the next General Election following a major consultation on the issue last year.

The current system sees some Yorkshire councils get £2,500 less per pupil than the best supported London boroughs.

The F40 group which campaigns on behalf of the worst-funded authorities in the country – including the East Riding, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and Wakefield – will criticise Mr Gove’s decision to delay when they meet him tomorrow.

F40 chairman Coun Ivan Ould said: “Mr Gove and his Government have made it clear that they accept that the present system is unfair, so to put off meaningful change for a further three years – but probably many more – is just plain wrong. This Government is the first in nearly 20 years to acknowledge the unfairness of the allocation system and we had faith in it to do the right thing, but are devastated that it is now failing the pupils, teachers and schools in the poorest funded areas.”

However Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, welcomed the delay in creating a new formula.

She said: “Simple and transparent funding is important but so is fairness. Changing the funding system at a time of budget restrictions isn’t fair.”

In a written statement to Parliament Mr Gove said: “Support for reform was widespread but responses also suggested this model would need refinement and careful implementation. Getting the components and implementation of a fair national funding formula right is critical and we need to manage transition carefully so there is the minimum disturbance for schools. In the current economic climate, stability must be a priority.”

He said a minimum funding guarantee will remain in place for 2013-14 providing stability to schools who will not see budget cuts of more than 1.5 per cent.

Coun David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said: “Our education system needs a clear and transparent national funding formula for schools at local authority level which provides a level playing field between maintained schools and academies.

“While it’s good that Government has not rushed to implement a formula that would not achieve these objectives, schools and councils must have the flexibility to distribute their funding allocation to best meet the needs of children in their local communities.”