One of the big issues in the recent general election campaign was school funding. We were moving from an opaque formula that had grown up over the years and nobody appeared to understand to a National Funding Formula (NFF). This was crucial for us in the south west because our kids had been comparatively under-funded by governments of all colours for generations.
Unfortunately the first draft of the new NFF did not do what it said on the tin. Most schools in Plymouth had a small increase, but schools in historically under-funded Devon got a raw deal, some even losing money. That is why I threatened to vote it down at the beginning of this year. The government agreed, tail between its legs, to think again.
During the campaign we were continually reassuring people that the revised NFF would put right historic wrongs and the problem would be solved. Nobody believed us. Can’t blame them. Our opponents exploited the issue skilfully.
Last week the revised draft was finally released and it was better than I had even hoped for. The NNF will come into effect in April 2018, bringing with it extra money for our schools in Plymouth and Devon, in some cases very substantial increases. The overall budget rises from £41 billion this year to £43.5 billion in 2019-20. Most importantly, we are introducing a minimum per pupil funding. All secondary schools will attract funding of £4800 per pupil by 2019-20 and primary schools £3500.
Every single school gets a cash increase per pupil next yearand the following year. I accept that each school has still got to grapple with a challenging budget this year, and plan accordingly. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is not a train.
This puts our education system onto a proper long term transparent funding system for the future.
Although the criticism of the previous draft received wall to wall media coverage for what seemed like weeks, the new NFF, much better news, has barely received a squeak from the press. It was ever thus – bad news sells newspapers, good news slips through unnoticed.
We all know that teachers work very hard to maximise the once in a lifetime opportunity that every child gets to be educated and build a secure foundation for their lives. The new NFF gives a solid financial platform to enable this to happen. Positive news and not before time.