Pandemic funding for English primary schools absorbed by other cuts

The majority of primary schools in England will have their pandemic catch-up funding more than absorbed by an administrative change that has denied additional money for tens of thousands of children who have recently fallen into hardship, according to a survey.

The research carried out by the National Association of Head Teachers, a union, showed that 62 per cent of primary schools in England will miss out on at least £6,725 as a result of a decision to allocate “pupil premium” funding for disadvantaged children based on data collected last October rather than January this year.

The shortfall exceeds the average of £6,000 of funding these primary schools will receive as part of the government’s £1.7bn catch-up package, jeopardising schools’ ability to help children recover from a year of disrupted education.

“The government is giving with one hand while knowingly taking away with the other,” Paul Whiteman, the association’s general secretary, said.

“In stark contrast to their promises to put children and young people at the heart of the pandemic recovery, the reality is that the government is taking funding away from schools, leaving them worse off at a time when they need every possible resource available to them to help the children that most need it.”

Primary schools in England receive £1,345 of additional funding each year to spend on learning for every pupil who qualifies for free school meals on the basis of disadvantage. Secondary schools receive £955 per pupil.

The money we miss out on is the equivalent of a teacher or two members of support staff . . . That makes a big difference

The allocation was previously calculated according to a census carried out in January. But in December the government quietly moved this to October, excluding children who had become eligible for free school meals during that time.

Last week the Financial Times revealed that schools nationwide were likely to miss out on tens of millions of pounds in funding as a result of the change, with five London boroughs alone set to lose a combined total of more than £3.5m.

NAHT called on the government to “put this right” and give schools the money they would have received had the census date not changed. “If they don’t they will be abandoning those children most in need at the most critical time,” Whiteman said.

NAHT’s survey showed 62 per cent of respondents had at least five additional pupils become eligible for free school meals between the October and January censuses; 33 per cent had more than 10 pupils become eligible; and 10 per cent, more than 20.

Scott Halliwell, the headteacher of Southwood primary in east London, said the change has left his school budget short of £40,000, far more than allocated for catch-up activities.

As well as pupils whose family income has fallen, many four and five-year olds who started school in September and had not yet registered for free school meals will also be excluded. The shortfall will prevent the school running important catch-up programmes, such as early language intervention for disadvantaged pupils.

“There’s a real sense of injustice because we weren’t aware of it at the time,” Halliwell said. “The money we miss out on is the equivalent of a teacher or two members of support staff . . . That makes a big difference.”

The Department for Education said the change meant schools would know their budget earlier in the year to allow them to plan more easily, and added that pupil premium would increase to £2.5bn in 2021/22.

“We are taking steps to make sure every pupil gets an excellent education, no matter their background,” it said. 

Margaret Hodge, the Labour MP for Barking and Dagenham, said schools in her east London constituency had been hit particularly hard by the change, and called for the government to immediately revert to the January date. 

“It’s a complete betrayal of our children,” she said. “We’ve given [ministers] the evidence of the harm this is causing — for them to ignore that is abusing their power for political ends.”