Written Statement: Review of School Funding Formula in Wales

The independent Review of School Spending in Wales by the education economist, Luke Sibieta reported the many complexities in school funding across Wales and recommended that local authority school funding formulae should be more consistent and transparent. In response, we have undertaken an in-depth analysis of local authority funding formulae across Wales to understand the complexities and decision-making processes in relation to school funding formulae. 

Today I have published the Review of School Funding Formula in Wales, which provides a summary of this analysis, alongside recommendations that we will take forward to address the findings of the review. 

This review and recommendations will enable us to consider how the system can be improved to make a fairer funding system across Wales, to enable more transparent, comparable and consistent funding across Welsh schools. 

I’d like to thank local authorities who have assisted us in the review. We will continue to work with stakeholders across the system to inform future policy decisions, including a consultation on proposed changes later this year.