WORCESTERSHIRE County Council has welcomed an increase in school funding from central government.
Over the last three years, funding policy has seen more than £300million allocated to support the county’s schools.
Worcestershire schools were – at one time – among the lowest funded in the country.
But the council has seen an significant increase in the Schools Block Dedicated Schools Grant, which has risen from £314.6million in 2018/19 to £380.1m for 2022/23.
The funding will support mainstream and special schools in Worcestershire for 2022/23.
At their December meeting, The Council’s Cabinet considered a detailed report on the proposed National and Local Funding Arrangements for Schools for 2022/23 and agreed the arrangement would continue into next year now the funding has been confirmed.
Coun Marcus Hart, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education and Skills, said: “Ensuring our schools have everything in place to help Worcestershire’s students reach their full potential, will always be at the heart of every decision and one of our top priorities.
“The government announced the Dedicated Schools Grant Allocations on 16 December and this was slightly above our expectations which is really good news.
“We’re really pleased to have worked with the Worcestershire Schools Forum to ensure each pupil across the county receives adequate per pupil funding.”
The local formula will continue in Worcestershire, as required, to include the DfEs statutory Minimum Funding Levels, which are increasing in 2022/23 from £4,265 to £4,180 for primary and to £5,525 from £5,415 for secondary.
Worcestershire County Council has since 2018/19, following consultation with the Worcestershire Schools Forum and schools, implemented the Department for Education’s (DfEs) National Funding Formula (NFF) arrangement for mainstream schools as its local funding model in Worcestershire.
