HC Deb 07 May 2002 vol 385 cc84-5W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what formula the Learning and Skills Council uses to determine future funding for school sixth forms. [52510]

Margaret Hodge

The formula for funding school sixth forms is the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's chief executive, to write to the hon. Member providing the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many sixth forms the LSC expects to experience budget reductions in the current financial year. [52511]

Margaret Hodge

The LSC calculated two figures for each school sixth form—what it would receive under the real terms guarantee which protects funding relative to the baseline year of 2000–01, depending on changes in pupil numbers; and what it would receive under the LSC's own funding formula, which reflects the nature and number of programmes being studied. The LSC allocation for the school is the higher of these two figures. Almost two thirds of schools are being funded under the LSC's formula in 2002–03, so are receiving more than they would under the real terms guarantee.

The LSC notified LEAs of the sixth form funding allocations for their schools in early March. It was for LEAs to set overall budgets for all their schools by the end of March, incorporating the LSC allocations. Schools receive the funds from the LEA as one pot of money and are not required to account separately for the LSC allocation. However, LEAs are required under the rules of fair funding to ensure that schools receive for their sixth forms at least the real terms guarantee and one third of any difference between that and the LSC formula allocation, rising to the full amount by 2004.