Schools funding cut for Norfolk following DfE error

A c*** up in the Department for Education means schools in Norfolk will be getting £5.6 million less next year than has been planned for.

Each year the Department for Education announces schools funding allocations for Local Authority areas in the summer. Most of the money is allocated to schools based on a national formula but part is allocated locally based on priorities agreed with the education sector. The County Council is in the middle of its normal consultation process now.

In October, the DfE issued new (lower) figures after it spotted an error in its own calculations. The DfE has apologised for the error which affects all local authority areas. This error affects the schools block funding only and does not affect the High Needs Block which funds support for children with additional needs.

Schools have not received any removal of current funding, but school budgets are already tight and many will have begun to plan for next year based on the original July figures and will now need to adjust what they plan to spend on staffing and activities.

The County Council has written to the DfE demanding that they stick to the original allocation.