§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his policy that schools will integrate activities funded by the Standards Fund into their base cost. [110068]
§ Mr. MilibandThe Government are not requiring that schools continue in the same way those activities previously supported through the Standards Fund. The purpose of reducing the proportion of funding provided through ring-fenced grants is to give schools greater control of their resources. It will be for schools to decide how best take forward action in areas previously supported through these grants, taking account of local priorities.
This year's increased funding far education of over £2.6 billion, 11.6 per cent. extra, is more than £250 million greater than the pressures due to pay, pensions, inflation and ending specific grants in order to reduce the proportion of ring-fenced funding, giving schools greater control of their resources.