§ 15. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will announce additional funding for schools with a large proportion of children of military personnel under the terms of the turbulence factor. [169219]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggLocal education authorities have discretion to make extra funding available to schools with high pupil turnover as a result of armed forces redeployments, and some do so, including Essex. We are aware that schools with a high proportion of service family children among their pupils have a range of concerns about funding and other issues; and a series of regional meetings is taking place in May with a new national body including representative head teachers of such schools, as well as Government officials. We shall be considering the results in due course, with a view to meeting the needs of these schools.