Purpose

The decision is to approve final funding rates for the 2026/27 mainstream schools funding formula, to be submitted to the Department for Education for approval before the legal deadline of 28 February 2026 for issuing schools’ budgets.  The funding rates have been set according to the principles approved by Cabinet and in line with DFE guidance, and in order to ensure that they are affordable using the latest pupil data, which had not been received from DfE at the date of the Cabinet meeting, and that they distribute the whole of the available grant, as required by legislation.  The accompanying annex provides further information.

The funding rates have been revised following advice from the Department for Education on 9 February of the end of the safety valve programme, The Department has confirmed that Surrey need no longer transfer 1% of schools block funding to high needs block in 2027/28, as had been required under the safety valve agreement and therefore the council no longer proposes to make such a transfer.

Decision

Decision made:

It was AGREED that the proposed formula funding rates should be approved for submission to DfE, in line with the DfE’s national funding formula.

Reasons for the decision

To comply with legislation and to allow maintained schools to be advised of their budget shares by the required deadline. The proposed funding rates are consistent with the decisions of Cabinet on 25 November 2025 and the recommendations of the Schools Forum on 6 October 2025 and 6 January 2026.

Alternative options considered

Please see papers for Schools Forum 6 October 2025.  Schools forum and other consultative groups - Surrey County Council