§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional support is provided to schools in deprived communities; and if she will make a statement. [73008]
§ Mr. MilibandNationally, about 20 per cent. of Education Standard Spending is based on additional educational need (AEN). The additional support provided to a particular school with a high number of pupils from deprived backgrounds will depend on decisions made at local level through the Fair Funding formula operated by its local education authority (LEA).
Around 25 per cent. of the Standards Fund, or £800 million of grant in 2002–03, is allocated to LEAs using deprivation factors, normally the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals. All schools will receive a devolved Standards Fund budget, based on a distribution agreed with their LEA, including any factors for deprivation.
The Standards Fund includes £255 million of targeted support in 2002–03 for deprived communities through grants for Excellence in Cities and Excellence Clusters. The Government is also providing £64 million to Education Action Zones, based in deprived areas, to run programmes to achieve pre-agreed targets and objectives in zone schools.