Issue details

The decision is to approve final funding rates for the 2025/26 mainstream schools funding formula, to be submitted to the Department for Education (DFE) for approval prior to issuing of budget shares to individual schools.  The funding rates have been set so that:

* they comply with the principles approved by Cabinet,

*  they are affordable using the latest data, which had not been received from DfE at the date of the Cabinet meeting,

* they distribute the whole of the available grant (less the anticipated transfer to high needs block), as required by legislation.  The accompanying annex provides further information.

Please note: the published funding formula and funding rates could be amended following review by DfE and hence should not yet be regarded as final.

At the time of delegated approval, the DfE had not yet communicated a decision on the council’s request to transfer 1% of schools block funding (now estimated at £8.9m) to the high needs block. This transfer was approved by DfE on 6 February 2025 and is reflected in the attached rates.