§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what impact his announcement in respect of financial settlements to local education authorities will have on per capita funding for(a) primary and (b) secondary schools for (i) 2004–05 and for (ii) each local education authority. [159799]
§ Mr. MilibandOur proposals to restore stability and certainty to school funding include a guaranteed minimum increase in every school's per pupil funding of 4 per cent. where pupil numbers remain unchanged. All authorities' School Formula Spending Shares are increasing by at least 5 per cent. per pupil in 2004–05. This gives headroom above the guarantee and flexibility to target funds towards schools facing difficulty. Information showing the increase per pupil for all local education authorities in England has been placed in the Libraries. It is for individual authorities to decide how1362W funding above the guaranteed minimum increase should be distributed to primary and secondary schools, using their locally agreed funding formulae.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what proportion of(a) leadership incentive, (b) national literacy and numeracy strategy, (c) Key Stage 3 Strategy, (d) ethnic minority achievements, (e) school support staff and (f) information communication technology in schools: infrastructure grants are allocated directly to schools; and on what basis; [159184]
(2) what proportion of Standards Funds grants are paid directly to schools. [159185]
§ Mr. Miliband[holding answer 5 March 2004]: Standards Fund grants are allocated to local education authorities, not directly to schools. For some grants a minimum proportion must be devolved by local education authorities to their schools. The total proportion of the Standards Fund required to be devolved to schools through the Standards Fund in 2003–04 is 83 per cent.
The proportions required to be devolved to schools in 2003–04 for the particular grants referred to are:
Grant Proportion required to be devolved
(percentage)
Leadership Incentive Grant 100 National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies 70 Key Stage 3 Strategy 66 Ethnic Minority Achievement 85 School Support Staff 100 Information Communication Technology in Schools: Infrastructure 96 These grants are devolved to schools on the following basis:
Leadership Incentive Grant
£125,000 to each secondary school in Excellence in Cities Areas, Education Action Zones and Excellence Clusters and secondary schools outside those areas where fewer than 30 per cent. of Year-11 pupils attain at least five A*-C grades at GCSE or where more than 35 per cent. of pupils are eligible for free school meals. All schools in receipt of the grant must agree a collaborative plan with their local education authority.
National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies
Grant is allocated to schools based on numbers of pupils and distance to the LEA's 2004 Key Stage 2 targets, KS1 reading and maths results, and the number of teachers attending five day maths courses, literacy priority training and training for Year 3 teachers.
Key Stage 3 Strategy
Allocated to schools to deliver core training and support to schools across the five strands of the Strategy, plus training for the behaviour and attendance programme. The grant also includes an allocation for training, support to schools identified for additional intensive support and schools with leading professionals 1363W and teachers, and schools whose pupils face the greatest challenge in achieving the standards of learning expected of their age.
Ethnic Minority Achievement
Local education authorities can determine their own formula for allocating this grant to schools, after consultation with the local Schools Forum.
School Support Staff
Local education authorities can determine their own formula for allocating this grant to schools, after consultation with the local Schools Forum.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Schools: Infrastructure
Local education authorities allocate the grant to schools in line with their ICT Development Plan to deliver improved computer:pupil ratios as well as provide a range of equipment and support.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2004, Official Report, column 519W, on funds/grants, if he will make a statement on the purpose of the Condition Funding grant. [159187]
§ Mr. MilibandCondition funding was introduce in 2001–02 as a capital grant allocation to all local education authorities for the investment needs of their maintained school buildings as prioritised through the local asset management planning process. It is allocated according to relative need based on condition data provided by all authorities, from a full survey of all their school buildings. It is for capital investment in buildings as defined in the current CIPFA Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in Great Britain: A Statement of Recommended Practice. Where authorities have satisfactory asset management plans, they have autonomy on how this grant is invested. Further details of this grant can be found in my Department's guidance on the programme which, along with guidance on other capital programmes, can be accessed through www.teachernet.gov.uk/schoolscapital. I am arranging for copies of this guidance to be p laced in the Libraries of both Houses.
Although Condition funding is allocated according to condition need, we urge all authorities to join up all capital funding streams locally to achieve the greatest impact in raising school standards, and to secure cross-cutting gains and best value for money investment.
From 2004–05, to simplify funding programmes, Condition funding allocation becomes part of the Modernisation formulaic capital funding programme for all authorities.