The second stage of a consultation for a change to the national funding formula for schools was launched by the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening MP, yesterday (Wednesday).
The new national funding formula seeks to address the “unfairness in the current, outdated system” to ensure that small, rural schools are funded as equally as those in urban areas.
Underperforming areas will gain
Justine Greening says,
“Schools serving large numbers of pupils who live in areas of deprivation but who are not eligible for free school meals – those whose families are just about managing – will benefit from our proposals.
“Schools in areas of sustained educational underperformance will also gain.”
Although Isle of Wight schools have seen some great improvements in the last four years (from a time when many had been placed in Special Measures), the Island still ranks near the bottom of the league tables for attainment, so according to Ms Greening’s comment above, should see some promising funding gains.
Secondary schools the winners
The figures provided relate to six of the Island’s secondary schools; Sandown Bay, Ryde Academy, Medina College, Cowes Enterprise College, Carisbrooke College and Christ the King College.
The IOW Studio School and Island Free School are not included yet, as they are still considered ‘new schools and filling up’.
Looking across the six schools the average increase in funding would be 3.34% (£161,333pa).
The biggest increase would go to Sandown Bay Academy (the largest pupil numbers), which could see an increase of 4.12% (£214,000), whilst the lowest increase would go to Christ the King College with 2.4% (£135,000).
| School | Baseline funding | Illustrative NFF funding | % change | £ change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carisbrooke College | £3,777,000 | £3,881,000 | 2.75% | £104,000 |
| Christ the King College | £5,615,000 | £5,750,000 | 2.40% | £135,000 |
| Cowes Enterprise College | £4,366,000 | £4,509,000 | 3.28% | £143,000 |
| Medina College | £5,467,000 | £5,669,000 | 3.69% | £202,000 |
| Ryde Academy | £4,452,000 | £4,622,000 | 3.82% | £170,000 |
| Sandown Bay | £5,199,000 | £5,413,000 | 4.12% | £214,000 |
Many primary schools lose out
The picture is quite different for Isle of Wight primary schools though.
According to the preliminary illustrative figures presented by the DfE, the average change to funding is -0.39%, with four primary schools potentially losing over £30,000 of funding per annum.
Oakfield Primary in Ryde could lose -2.70% (-£37,000), with Lanesend (-£36k), St Francis (-£36k) and Gurnard (-£33k) primary schools all following close behind.
In percentage terms, the winners in the primary sector look to be Chillerton & Rookley with 5.88% increase (£19,000). However in terms of funding the largest increase goes to Barton Primary with an increase of £43,000 (4.61%).
| Primary school | Baseline funding | Illustrative NFF funding | % change | £ change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barton | £932,000 | £975,000 | 4.61% | £43,000 |
| Queens Gate | £1,526,000 | £1,561,000 | 2.29% | £35,000 |
| Nine Acres | £1,486,000 | £1,515,000 | 1.95% | £29,000 |
| The Bay | £1,632,000 | £1,661,000 | 1.78% | £29,000 |
| Dover Park | £1,016,000 | £1,042,000 | 2.56% | £26,000 |
| Brading | £506,000 | £527,000 | 4.15% | £21,000 |
| Broadlea | £1,570,000 | £1,590,000 | 1.27% | £20,000 |
| Chillerton and Rookley | £323,000 | £342,000 | 5.88% | £19,000 |
| Haylands | £1,592,000 | £1,607,000 | 0.94% | £15,000 |
| Green Mount | £1,383,000 | £1,393,000 | 0.72% | £10,000 |
| Carisbrooke | £1,437,000 | £1,446,000 | 0.63% | £9,000 |
| St Blasius | £785,000 | £793,000 | 1.02% | £8,000 |
| Gatten and Lake | £832,000 | £837,000 | 0.60% | £5,000 |
| Summerfields | £818,000 | £820,000 | 0.24% | £2,000 |
| St Thomas of Canterbury | £767,000 | £768,000 | 0.13% | £1,000 |
| Yarmouth | £468,000 | £467,000 | -0.21% | -£1,000 |
| Hunnyhill | £1,131,000 | £1,129,000 | -0.18% | -£2,000 |
| All Saints | £491,000 | £487,000 | -0.81% | -£4,000 |
| St Helen's | £371,000 | £367,000 | -1.08% | -£4,000 |
| Wroxall | £626,000 | £620,000 | -0.96% | -£6,000 |
| St Saviour's | £570,000 | £564,000 | -1.05% | -£6,000 |
| Newport | £1,218,000 | £1,211,000 | -0.57% | -£7,000 |
| Godshill | £511,000 | £504,000 | -1.37% | -£7,000 |
| St Mary's | £823,000 | £815,000 | -0.97% | -£8,000 |
| Brighstone | £626,000 | £616,000 | -1.60% | -£10,000 |
| Bembridge | £764,000 | £752,000 | -1.57% | -£12,000 |
| Nettlestone | £772,000 | £758,000 | -1.81% | -£14,000 |
| Northwood | £749,000 | £734,000 | -2.00% | -£15,000 |
| Niton | £633,000 | £618,000 | -2.37% | -£15,000 |
| Shalfleet | £671,000 | £655,000 | -2.38% | -£16,000 |
| Wootton | £761,000 | £744,000 | -2.23% | -£17,000 |
| Holy Cross | £789,000 | £771,000 | -2.28% | -£18,000 |
| Arreton St George's | £708,000 | £690,000 | -2.54% | -£18,000 |
| Newchurch | £793,000 | £773,000 | -2.52% | -£20,000 |
| Binstead | £841,000 | £819,000 | -2.62% | -£22,000 |
| Cowes | £1,128,000 | £1,099,000 | -2.57% | -£29,000 |
| Gurnard | £1,250,000 | £1,217,000 | -2.64% | -£33,000 |
| St Francis | £1,353,000 | £1,317,000 | -2.66% | -£36,000 |
| Lanesend | £1,334,000 | £1,298,000 | -2.70% | -£36,000 |
| Oakfield | £1,369,000 | £1,332,000 | -2.70% | -£37,000 |
It’s understood there may be some additional top-ups, but OnTheWight are seeking further clarification on that.
