HEADTEACHERS and MPs have welcomed plans to change the way funding is allocated to schools.

The Government hopes to replace the current, hugely-complicated and very inconsistent system with a new, national one which earmarks a more similar amount for each pupil on their rolls.

The new formula would come in 2017, with councils distributing the funds for the first two years before it is handed directly to schools. The move ties in with Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget announcement he wants all schools to become academies, free of council control, by 2022.

Desi McKeown, acting headteacher of the Deanes School, in Thundersley, agrees the system needs to change and hopes it will help tackle his school’s funding issues.

He said: “I would welcome any review of the current system.

Right now, I don’t know how it will all pan out, but this consultation is a good start.”

Schools are being asked to give their views on the change during a consultation period, which ends on April 17. Mr McKeown added: “Funding is our school’s biggest challenge. We’ve found the cost of staff is continually on the rise, so we’re seeing an ever-increasing spending gap.”

Deanes currently has fewer pupils on its roll than it could have and is even launching an ad campaign to encourage more Year 7 pupils to go there in September.

Mr McKeown said: “Our school has a bit of a unique issue, as we’re not at full capacity, but are seeing our numbers grow, yearon- year.

“We’re getting additional funding for each pupil, and through this we can manage our growth a bit.

“The picture for some schools at full capacity isn’t as rosy, though, because their funding has remained the same and they are struggling to make ends meet.

“The consultation is in its very early stages, but anything to make the current system less complicated can only be good.”

Tory childcare minister Sam Gyimah hopes the proposals will end the wide differences in the amount schools get per pupil.

He said: “The reforms we are proposing here are transformative.

It will no longer be possible for a pupil with low prior attainment to attract an additional £2,248 to their school in one area, and just £36 extra in another.

“Instead of 152 different local funding formulae, there will be one, national formula, reflecting the increasing number of academies outside local control.

“It will end the postcode lottery and ensure all pupils are given the best opportunity to achieve to the best of their ability”.

Echo: