School Size and Local Management Funding Formulae

Abstract

In this paper Hywel Thomas and Alison Bullock of the Centre for Education Management and Policy Studies, University of Birmingham review the impact of local management funding formulae on schools of different size. In the light of guidance provided by the DES and Welsh Office, they examine how LEAs have sought to provide curriculum protection for schools of varying sizes and salary protection for their smallest schools. They also report on the level of funding given for these purposes. Finally, on the basis of a study. of over 7, 000, schools they describe the impact of funding changes upon schools of different size and in doing so identify a distinctive pattern of 'winning' and 'losing'. The work is part of a project on the 'Funding of Schools after the 1988 Education Reform Act' for which funding by the Leverhulme Trust is acknowledged.