Opinion

Time to sort out the confusing landscape of school funding

The landscape of school funding streams and budgets is becoming increasingly confusing and is beset by lags and delays that impact our pupils. It's time to reform and simplify things, says Helen Osgood

Earlier this year, I was speaking with some new headteachers about their experiences of their first year in post, and although there were lots of issues raised – from Ofsted and accountability, to staffing and managing strikes – one of the things they found most baffling was the funding system. Getting your head around “DFC”, “SCA” and “GAG” funding sometimes requires a degree in itself.

Let’s be honest, most people who trained to be teachers are interested in teaching and learning, not school finances!

 

Funding streams

Most state-funded schools in England are funded through two main funding pots – revenue funding and capital funding. So far, so good.

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