Public School Funding in England: describing the model and recent trends

Abstract

This article describes aspects of the financing of compulsory education in England. In the first part, it provides an overview of the country’s educational policies that have shaped school funding changes. The second part explains the stages and ages of compulsory education in the country and examines the growth of enrolment in each school type. The paper also explores the National Funding Formula (NFF), its factors and allocations, and presents official data on spending by school type and average per-pupil expenditure in England. The data reveals an increase in compulsory enrolment in public schools since 2015, putting pressure on education costs. There has also been a proliferation of school types in the country, leading to varying per-pupil spending across school types and a significant flow of public funding to private actors. Additionally, public spending on education decreased over most of the 2010s, representing a significant squeeze on school resources and teacher pay. Despite the current government’s efforts to restore 2010 budget levels, this goal remains unmet.

Keywords

• England Public Education
• School Funding
• School Costs
• National Funding Formula (NFF)