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Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, responding to Education Secretary Justine Greening’s statement on the National Funding Formula for schools

"Councils and the LGA have long called for a fairer funding system for all schools to ensure that all children have equal opportunities and have been clear that the setting of school budgets works best when done at a local level, with councils working with head teachers, governors and schools forums to determine need and priorities.

“We are pleased that the Government has committed to ensuring no school is worse off as a result of the national funding formula and has announced some additional funding, however we need urgent assurance that it is not coming at the expense of other education provision. We look forward to receiving further details from the Government about where the money is coming from and how it will be distributed.

“Retaining local flexibility over the distribution of school funding is essential and we are pleased that the Government has listened to the LGA and local authorities by recognising their role and extending the soft formula until 2019/20.

“We look forward to working with the Education Secretary on creating more school places through the establishment of 30 new schools in consultation with local authorities, this is something the LGA has long called for. However, government must go further in recognising councils’ role in creating school places by giving all councils the power to build schools where they are needed."

Justine Greening statement to parliament on school funding