14 Rejected

Local authorities can apply local funding formulae in deciding funding for maintained schools and academy...

Conclusion
Local authorities can apply local funding formulae in deciding funding for maintained schools and academy trusts. However, the Department limited the extent of local authorities’ discretion from 2020–21 by requiring them to include the minimum per- pupil funding levels in their local formulae.19 By contrast, academy trusts are not required to provide their schools with the minimum per-pupil funding levels. The Department allows multi-academy trusts to pool funding centrally, and they can also re-distribute funding between their schools based on their own assessment of need.20
Government Response Summary
The government disagreed with an implicit recommendation regarding multi-academy trust funding distribution, stating it does not collect information on how trusts provide minimum per-pupil funding to their schools, and it would not be practicable. It advised using the Schools Financial Benchmarking website for expenditure analysis.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government Rejected
3.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 3.2 The department does not collect information from academy trusts in this form and it would not be practicable to collect and publish it for the academic years ending 31 August 2021 or 31 August 2022. The department will keep under review the financial information provided by academy trusts. 3.3 The expenditure of academy schools can be analysed on a per pupil basis using data available on the Schools Financial Benchmarking website. The department believes this is the best information for assessing whether money is being spent appropriately on pupils. The department will continue to review the Schools Financial Benchmarking website to ensure that information is presented transparently and clearly, informed by user feedback.
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.8 yrs
Report published 22 Oct 2021