Schools funding

 
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Nick shares concerns about schools funding in West Sussex.  It was not right that our children received less funding that others in similar parts of the country.  West Sussex historically had the lowest schools funding of any shire authority.  Nick therefore made a strong case for fair funding for West Sussex schools.

The Government responded with a new National Funding Formula, resulting in an extra £28 million for West Sussex schools which went a considerable way towards making funding fairer. Our secondary schools received up to 12 per cent more funding with the Formula is fully implemented. 

However, funding pressures remained for some schools, and Nick continued to press for the closing of the fairness ‘gap’. He is particularly concerned about the funding of primary schools after transitional help expires, and about the sustainability of small rural primary schools.  Nick has been in constant discussions with our local schools and West Sussex County Council about these issues.  Our schools should be funded on the same basis as those in their peer group across England, although we must be wary of crude comparisons since everyone is agreed that schools in very deprived inner city areas will always have additional needs.

Nick welcomes the cash boost announced by the Prime Minister on 30 August 2019 to increase school funding by £4.6bn above inflation, levelling up education funding and giving all young people the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of where they grow up or go to school.

The cash boost means that from 2020, every secondary school will receive a minimum of £5,000 per pupil and every primary school will get a minimum of £4,000 from 2021-22. 

This issue remains a high priority for Nick, and he will continue to stand up strongly for our local schools, including through representations to the new Education Secretary and the Chancellor.  However, this is not just about funding.  Nick is also very concerned about standards which in too many West Sussex schools have not been good enough, and he wants to hear more about how improvements will be made.

WINNING FAIR FUNDING

Nick and his fellow West Sussex MPs meet the Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, to lobby for better funding locally - 29 November 2018.

Nick and his fellow West Sussex MPs meet the Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, to lobby for better funding locally - 29 November 2018.

Nationally, schools funding has been protected and is at a record £40 billion a year despite the need to reduce the deficit, and funding per pupil has risen, but in recent years cost pressures in our schools have outweighed these gains.

Nick, along with other West Sussex MPs, made a strong formal submission to the Government in March 2017 about the issue. You can read this here.  It recognised the funding pressures in our schools, and made a very strong case for fairness, including for a minimum level of funding for schools, ensuring that all schools have sufficient resourcing to deliver the curriculum. 

Nick was pleased that the Conservative Party’s Manifesto at the last election recognised these concerns. It not only recommitted to introducing fair funding, but also pledged (i) that no school would lose funding after the new Formula is introduced and (ii) to increase the overall schools budget by £4 billion by 2022, representing more than a real terms increase for every year of the parliament.  You can read these commitments on page 51 of the Manifesto here

The Department of Education considered the submissions to its consultation and responded in September 2017 with improved proposals, backed by an extra £1.3 billion for the frontline schools budget. You can read Nick's response to this here. With this funding increase, the Government will now be spending more on schools over the next two years than promised by Labour in the election.

Nick has worked very hard on this issue over the past three years. He has held a number of meetings with local headteachers and governors to discuss it, he has called parliamentary debates to raise the issue, and he has met the Schools Minister, the Education Secretary and the Prime Minister to discuss his concerns. You can see a full list of Nick’s actions below.

Nick meeting pupils from Duncton school on their school trip to Westminster

Nick meeting pupils from Duncton school on their school trip to Westminster

Nick's actions on schools funding

2018-19

  1. Meeting with Schools Minister
    Nick met with the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, and Bury Primary headteacher, Thomas Moore, to discuss the funding needs of small rural schools. (04.11.2019)

  2. School visit
    Nick visited Bury Primary School to discuss their funding situation and standards. (22.10.2019)

  3. School visit
    Nick visited Arundel CE School to discuss their funding situation and standards. (12.07.2019)

  4. School visit
    Nick visited Arundel CE School to discuss their funding situation and standards. (12.07.2019)

  5. School visit
    Nick visited Slindon College to meet with Mark Birkbeck, headmaster and David Slee, Chair of Governors to discuss SEN funding. (28.06.2019)

  6. F40 briefing
    Nick attended a briefing on school funding held in Parliament by F40, the campaign for greater school funding. (14.05.2019)

  7. Meeting with Treasury Minister
    Nick met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, to discuss school funding across West Sussex. (08.05.2019)

  8. Speech in Westminster Hall debate
    Nick spoke in the Westminster Hall debate on schools funding, to highlight the particular challenges faced by schools in West Sussex. (04.03.2019)

  9. Meeting with Education Secretary
    Nick met with the Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, and other West Sussex MPs to discuss funding, standards and special needs. (28.11.2018)

  10. Meeting with Education Secretary and Schools Minister
    Nick, in a delegation of West Sussex MPs, met with the Education Secretary and Schools Minister to discuss school funding and standards across the county. To see Nick's tweet about this meeting, click here. (17.04.2018)

  11. Regional Schools Commissioner meeting
    West Sussex MPs met Regional Schools Commissioner for the South East, Dominic Herrington, to discuss school funding, governance and standards. (24.01.2018)

  12. West Sussex County Council meeting
    West Sussex MPs met at County Hall in Chichester to discuss the education system in West Sussex with local officials. (19.01.2018)

  13. School visit
    Nick visited the Ormiston Six Villages Academy to discuss their funding situation and standards. (12.01.2018)

  14. Local newspaper articles
    To update parents on the local funding situation, Nick wrote an article in the local press, which you may read here. (10.01.2018)

  15. Joint statement by West Sussex MPs
    Nick and his fellow West Sussex MPs discussed the county's school funding situation and together agreed a joint position – you can read their statement on the issue here. (9.01.2018)

2017
 

  1. County Council meeting with West Sussex MPs
    Nick and his fellow West Sussex MPs met with County Council representatives to describe school funding – you can read Nick’s account of this meeting here  (19.12.2017)
     
  2. Primary school visits
    Nick visited several primary schools in the constituency including St James’ Primary in Coldwaltham,  Graffham Infant School and Bury Primary School, to discuss their funding situations. (15.12.2017)
     
  3. Local newspaper articles
    To update parents on the local funding situation, Nick wrote an article in the local press, whic you may read here.  (6.12.2017)
     
  4. School visit
    Nick visited the Angmering school to discuss their funding situation. (1.12.2017)
     
  5. Local newspaper articles
    In his article for the West Sussex County Times, Worthing Herald, and Chichester Observer, Nick welcomes the Government's response to the consultation which netted an increase of nearly £29 million for schools in West Sussex.  You can read this article here.  (20.09.17)
     
  6. Nick responds to the Consultation
    After considering the Department for Education's response to the consultation, Nick welcomed the announcement of a minimum level of per-pupil funding, which had been a key request in his earlier submission to the consultation.  You can read his comments in full here.  (19.09.17)
     
  7. Letter from Schools Minister
    Nick received a letter from the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, explaining the Department for Education's response to the consultation on school funding reform.  You can read this letter here.  (18.09.17)
     
  8. Fair Funding announcement
    Nick welcomed the fair funding announcement by Education Secretary, Justine Greening, which revealed that the Department of Education had taken on board a number of his suggestions made in his consultation submission.  You can read a report of the Education Secretary's announcement here. (14.09.17)
     
  9. Local newspaper articles
    In his article for the West Sussex County Times, Worthing Herald, and Chichester Observer, Nick welcomes the the recent announcement of an extra £1.3 billion for school budgets.  You can read this article here. (18.07.17)
     
  10. Letter from Schools Minister
    Nick received a letter from the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, acknowledging the West Sussex MPs’ joint submission and affirming that the Department for Education will respond to the consultation on school funding reform later this summer.  You can read this letter here. (6.04.17)
     
  11. West Sussex County Times article
    To mark the deadline of the Department for Education’s second consultation on funding reform, Nick’s article for the WSCT discussed his views on the funding issue and the actions that he and other local MPs have been taking to secure the better school funding West Sussex children deserve. (22.03.17)
     
  12. Joint submission to the Stage 2 consultation
    In a letter to the Education Secretary, Nick and other West Sussex MPs submitted a joint statement to the Department of Education’s consultation on school funding reform, to highlight the additional needs of local schools and to secure greater funding.  You can read Nick’s news release explaining the letter here. (20.03.17) 
     
  13. Report from Education Policy Institute
    Nick welcomed the publication of a new report into school funding by the Education Policy Institute, and quoted from it in his 20 March letter to the Education Secretary.  The report can be found here. (17.03.17)
     
  14. Meeting with the Prime Minister
    Nick, representing his West Sussex colleagues, joined with other MPs from underfunded Local Authorities in a delegation to meet with the Prime Minister, Theresa May, in order to discuss their concerns with the projected funding allocations of the proposed formula. You can hear an account of this meeting by Nick’s colleague Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP here. (15.03.17)
     
  15. Meeting with West Sussex MPs
    Nick met with other West Sussex MPs to discuss efforts to secure fairer funding for local schools. (14.03.17)
     
  16.  f40 meeting in Parliament
    Nick’s staff attended a briefing held by the f40 campaign group, which represents the lowest funded education authorities in England.  You can see the group's news release about the event here.  (20.02.17)
     
  17. Headteacher delegation to meet the Schools Minister
    Nick, along with other West Sussex MPs, hosted a group of local headteachers for a meeting in Parliament with the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb.  They put their questions to him, and the minister listened to their suggestions. (1.02.17)
     
  18. Question to the Education Secretary
    During a House of Commons Chamber debate, Nick asked the Education Secretary, Justine Greening, why it was that West Sussex schools were losing money when they are already in the worst-funded shire authority.  You can read her answer here. (25.01.17)
     
  19. House of Commons Library Briefing
    Nick read the newly updated House of Commons Library briefing on the new funding formula, which you may find here. (12.01.17)
     
  20. Discussion with Education Secretary
    Nick had a telephone call with the Education Secretary, Justine Greening, to discuss the impact of the proposed new funding formula on West Sussex schools. (13.12.16)
     
  21. WorthLess petition delivered to Downing Street
    Nick supported the petition of the local school funding campaign ‘WorthLess’ in its presentation to 10 Downing Street. (18.11.16)
     
  22. Meeting with Headteacher
    Nick met the headteacher of Steyning Grammar, Nick Wergan, to discuss school funding and other issues related to education in West Sussex. (4.11.16)
     
  23. Meeting with Education Secretary
    Nick, in a delegation of West Sussex MPs, held a meeting with the Education Secretary, Justine Greening, to discuss the impact of underfunding on local schools. (2.11.16)
     
  24. Westminster Hall speech
    Nick spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on school funding in West Sussex.  To read his speech, and the response of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, click here.  (2.11.16)
     
  25. Meeting with Schools Minister
    West Sussex MPs met the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, to press the case for transitional help for local schools ahead of the new fair funding formula’s introduction. (18.10.16)
     
  26. Meeting with West Sussex County Council
    West Sussex MPs met with Louise Goldsmith, the Leader of West Sussex County Council to discuss education funding. (14.10.16)
     
  27. Headteacher delegation to Parliament
    West Sussex MPs hosted a group of local headteachers from across the county to discuss school budgets. (24.05.16)
     
  28. Fair funding reforms in the Queen’s Speech
    Responding to the Queen’ Speech outlining the Government’s legislative intentions for the year ahead, Nick welcomed the delivery of the Conservative manifesto commitment for fairer reforms to the school funding formula, as being of “special interest to my constituency of Arundel and South Downs”.  To read his speech in full, click here.  (23.05.16)
     
  29. National Funding Formula announced
    Nick endorsed the announcement by the Schools Minister, Nicky Morgan, of a consultation on the new National Funding Formula. His comments may be read here. (10.03.16)
     
  30. Headteachers delegation to meet Schools Minister
    Nick and his fellow West Sussex MPs went ‘in to bat for our county again’ by taking a delegation of local headteachers to meet the Schools Minister, Sam Gyimah, and to press for fairer funding for local schools.  To read Nick’s article, click here.  (8.02.16)
     
  31. West Sussex MPs welcome victory in Fair Funding campaign
    In a joint statement, West Sussex MPs greeted the news that their campaign for fairer funding has resulted in a reform to the formula which allocates school budgets. (8.12.15)
     
  32. Chancellor announces overhaul of schools funding
    Nick endorsed the announcement of fair funding reform by the Chancellor of Exchequer, George Osborne, as a ‘another win for West Sussex’.  To read his article in full, click here.  (26.11.15)
     
  33. Westminster Hall Debate
    Nick made the case for schools funding reform in a debate on the issue, calling it ‘a basic issue of fairness’. To read his speech in full, click here. (5.11.15)
     
  34. West Sussex MPs meeting
    MPs from the County met in Horsham to discuss school funding, and potential reforms to the allocation system. (18.09.15)
     
  35. Local newspaper article
    In an article for the West Sussex County Times, Nick asserted the need for the fairer funding that local schools deserve. (17.09.15)
     
  36. Meeting with Education Secretary and Schools Minister
    Nick, along with his West Sussex colleagues, had an ‘encouraging’ meeting with Nicky Morgan and Sam Gyimah to press the case for reforming the ‘unjustifiable’ short-changing of local schools.  To read a news release about the meeting, click here. (9.09.15)
     
  37. Parliamentary briefing on fair funding
    Nick attended a briefing by the f40 group on fair funding for schools. (14.07.15)
     
  38. Meeting with local headteachers
    Nick went to Steyning Grammar School for a meeting with the heads of Steyning Grammar, Downlands, Midhurst Rother College, St Philip Howard Catholic High School and Rydon Community College, to discuss the issue of school funding in West Sussex. (3.07.15)

2016

  1. Discussion with Education Secretary
    Nick had a telephone call with the Education Secretary, Justine Greening, to discuss the impact of the proposed new funding formula on West Sussex schools. (13.12.16)
     
  2. WorthLess petition delivered to Downing Street
    Nick supported the petition of the local school funding campaign ‘WorthLess’ in its presentation to 10 Downing Street. (18.11.16)
     
  3. Meeting with Headteacher
    Nick met the headteacher of Steyning Grammar, Nick Wergan, to discuss school funding and other issues related to education in West Sussex. (4.11.16)
     
  4. Meeting with Education Secretary
    Nick, in a delegation of West Sussex MPs, held a meeting with the Education Secretary, Justine Greening, to discuss the impact of underfunding on local schools. (2.11.16)
     
  5. Westminster Hall speech
    Nick spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on school funding in West Sussex.  To read his speech, and the response of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, click here.  (2.11.16)
     
  6. Meeting with Schools Minister
    West Sussex MPs met the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, to press the case for transitional help for local schools ahead of the new fair funding formula’s introduction. (18.10.16)
     
  7. Meeting with West Sussex County Council
    West Sussex MPs met with Louise Goldsmith, the Leader of West Sussex County Council to discuss education funding. (14.10.16)
     
  8. Headteacher delegation to Parliament
    West Sussex MPs hosted a group of local headteachers from across the county to discuss school budgets. (24.05.16)
     
  9. Fair funding reforms in the Queen’s Speech
    Responding to the Queen’ Speech outlining the Government’s legislative intentions for the year ahead, Nick welcomed the delivery of the Conservative manifesto commitment for fairer reforms to the school funding formula, as being of “special interest to my constituency of Arundel and South Downs”.  To read his speech in full, click here.  (23.05.16)
     
  10. National Funding Formula announced
    Nick endorsed the announcement by the Schools Minister, Nicky Morgan, of a consultation on the new National Funding Formula. His comments may be read here. (10.03.16)
     
  11. Headteachers delegation to meet Schools Minister
    Nick and his fellow West Sussex MPs went ‘in to bat for our county again’ by taking a delegation of local headteachers to meet the Schools Minister, Sam Gyimah, and to press for fairer funding for local schools.  To read Nick’s article, click here.  (8.02.16)
     
  12. West Sussex MPs welcome victory in Fair Funding campaign
    In a joint statement, West Sussex MPs greeted the news that their campaign for fairer funding has resulted in a reform to the formula which allocates school budgets. (8.12.15)
     
  13. Chancellor announces overhaul of schools funding
    Nick endorsed the announcement of fair funding reform by the Chancellor of Exchequer, George Osborne, as a ‘another win for West Sussex’.  To read his article in full, click here.  (26.11.15)
     
  14. Westminster Hall Debate
    Nick made the case for schools funding reform in a debate on the issue, calling it ‘a basic issue of fairness’. To read his speech in full, click here. (5.11.15)
     
  15. West Sussex MPs meeting
    MPs from the County met in Horsham to discuss school funding, and potential reforms to the allocation system. (18.09.15)
     
  16. Local newspaper article
    In an article for the West Sussex County Times, Nick asserted the need for the fairer funding that local schools deserve. (17.09.15)
     
  17. Meeting with Education Secretary and Schools Minister
    Nick, along with his West Sussex colleagues, had an ‘encouraging’ meeting with Nicky Morgan and Sam Gyimah to press the case for reforming the ‘unjustifiable’ short-changing of local schools.  To read a news release about the meeting, click here. (9.09.15)
     
  18. Parliamentary briefing on fair funding
    Nick attended a briefing by the f40 group on fair funding for schools. (14.07.15)
     
  19. Meeting with local headteachers
    Nick went to Steyning Grammar School for a meeting with the heads of Steyning Grammar, Downlands, Midhurst Rother College, St Philip Howard Catholic High School and Rydon Community College, to discuss the issue of school funding in West Sussex. (3.07.15)

2015

 

  1. West Sussex MPs welcome victory in Fair Funding campaign
    In a joint statement, West Sussex MPs greeted the news that their campaign for fairer funding has resulted in a reform to the formula which allocates school budgets. (8.12.15)
     
  2. Chancellor announces overhaul of schools funding
    Nick endorsed the announcement of fair funding reform by the Chancellor of Exchequer, George Osborne, as a ‘another win for West Sussex’.  To read his article in full, click here.  (26.11.15)
     
  3. Westminster Hall Debate
    Nick made the case for schools funding reform in a debate on the issue, calling it ‘a basic issue of fairness’. To read his speech in full, click here. (5.11.15)
     
  4. West Sussex MPs meeting
    MPs from the County met in Horsham to discuss school funding, and potential reforms to the allocation system. (18.09.15)
     
  5. Local newspaper article
    In an article for the West Sussex County Times, Nick asserted the need for the fairer funding that local schools deserve. (17.09.15)
     
  6. Meeting with Education Secretary and Schools Minister
    Nick, along with his West Sussex colleagues, had an ‘encouraging’ meeting with Nicky Morgan and Sam Gyimah to press the case for reforming the ‘unjustifiable’ short-changing of local schools.  To read a news release about the meeting, click here. (9.09.15)
     
  7. Parliamentary briefing on fair funding
    Nick attended a briefing by the f40 group on fair funding for schools. (14.07.15)
     
  8. Meeting with local headteachers
    Nick went to Steyning Grammar School for a meeting with the heads of Steyning Grammar, Downlands, Midhurst Rother College, St Philip Howard Catholic High School and Rydon Community College, to discuss the issue of school funding in West Sussex. (3.07.15)