Sheffield schools to benefit from rise in per-pupil funding in 2021

The Department for Education has this week published plans for the second year of the government’s three-year budget settlement worth a total of £14.4billion, which will see state schools receive a funding increase of at least 2 per cent per-pupil in 2021-22.

In Yorkshire and The Humber, per-pupil funding will increase by an average of 3.2 per cent and high needs funding will increase by 11.3 per cent per head.

This means that schools in Sheffield can expect to see the average per-pupil spending increase from around £5,031 to £5,193.

Councillor Abtisam Mohamed, cabinet member for education and skills at Sheffield Council, said: “It is fantastic news that children in Sheffield will benefit from this additional funding for all pupils.

"Since I took on the role of Cabinet Member, I have been calling on the Government to provide more funding, so that all our children receive high quality education in every setting.

“Every child in the city deserves a good education, to equip them with vital skills and many opportunities for adult life.”

Figures show that the majority of schools across the country will see increases of more than 3 per cent, although this is slightly lower in London – with increases of 2.3 per cent per-pupil in inner London and 2.5 per cent in outer London.

Schools in the capital will, however, still receive more per pupil than anywhere else in the country.

Nationally, the department said that each primary school will attract a minimum of £4,000 per-pupil under the national funding formula in 2021, up from £3,750 which they are receiving this year in the first year of the funding settlement.

While secondary per-pupil funding will be at least £5,150 in 2021-22, compared to the £5,000 they are receiving this year.

However, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the increase will still leave schools with less in real terms than they had 13 years ago.

Analysis by the think tank shows that even by 2022-23, funding will remain 0.7 per cent below its peak in 2009-10, based on today’s prices.

Education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said this year has been “incredibly challenging for schools, teachers and students due to the Covid-19 outbreak, with everyone working in education going to incredible lengths to support children and ensure they can get back to the classroom.”

He added: “Not only are we confirming another year of increased and better targeted funding for our schools, but with our transformative national funding formula we are making sure the money is distributed fairly across the country so all schools can drive up standards.

"With two thirds of local authorities now having moved towards the national funding formula, it is time for the remainder to follow suit and ensure fairness for every child.

“Our £1 billion Covid catch up fund comes on top of this £14.4 billion three-year school funding boost, meaning that this government is leaving no stone unturned in levelling up opportunities for every young person up and down the country.”

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