§ Angela WatkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes in funding will take place from April for advanced skills teachers to share their expertise in neighbouring schools. [100223]
§ Mr. MilibandFunding for Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs) in 2003–04 will be based on the same principles as now, but with additional funding available to allow for the planned expansion of the AST grade. Funding is provided to LEAs at an average of £14,500 per post of which £5,700 is for the outreach costs. The additional costs of AST posts are met through a broadly even mix of DIES funding through the Standards Fund (SF) and matching funding by the LEA. The amount currently available to LEAs in 2002–03 is –38.9 million of which the departmental contribution is £20.2 million. For 2003–04, the overall SF allocation to support ASTs is £66.4 million of which the DfES share is £33.2 million.
1129WIn addition to the matched funded grant we have made £17.7 million available in 2002£03 to support AST posts without a matching LEA contribution to work on specific Government priorities. There will be no new posts funded under these special schemes in 2003–04, although the match-funded grant allocations for 2003–04 include funding to enable LEAs to provide continuing support for existing posts when funding at the 100 per cent. grant rate finishes.