§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what recent representations she has received on the transparency of the arrangements for post-16 funding by the Learning and Skills Council; and if she will make a statement; [55086]
(2) what representations she has received from (a) schools, (b) local education authorities and (c) trade unions on the transition of post-16 funding from local education authorities to the Learning and Skills Council; and if she will make a statement.[55087]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisMy right hon. Friend has received wide-ranging representations from a number of schools, local education authorities and trade unions.
538WThe principles of the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) common funding approach are based on extensive consultations since 1999.
The funding system is designed to be transparent, objective, and flexible enough to cope with different modes of learning. Key elements are: national base rates weighted to reflect the higher costs of some forms of training; rewarding achievement; additional funding recognising disadvantage factors; and an uplift to reflect the higher cost of delivery in London and related areas. The foremost principle is that funding follows the learner.
The Real Terms Guarantee given to sixth forms means that their funding will be maintained relative to 2000–01 funding levels, provided pupil numbers are maintained. The Learning and Skills Council has calculated two figures for each sixth form2014;its adjusted RTG and its LSC formula allocation2014;and the school will receive the higher of the two. The Financing of Maintained School Regulations 2002 have been amended to ensure that sixth forms funded through the LSC formula see some benefit. For 2002–03 schools should gain a minimum of one third of the difference between the RTG and the formula allocation, where that allocation is higher. We intend to amend the regulations further for 2003–04 to ensure that such schools have a minimum two-thirds gain in that year.