The Schools Forum of Hammersmith and Fulham Council is scheduled to meet on 16 December 2025 to discuss the Schools Block Mainstream Budget for 2026/27. The meeting will focus on the provisional allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant¹ and the principles for modelling the Schools Block budget.

Schools Block Mainstream Budget 2026/27

The main item for discussion is the provisional Schools Block allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2026/27. The report pack states that the provisional allocation from the Department for Education (DfE) is £128.476m. This figure is based on October 2024 census numbers and does not include additional funding for growth and falling rolls. The council anticipates receiving the final allocation, based on October 2025 census numbers, by 19 December 2025.

The report pack highlights that in 2025/26, mainstream schools received funding through the National Insurance Contributions Grant and the Schools Budget Support Grant in addition to their DSG allocation through the Schools Block. From 2026/27, this funding will be incorporated into the Schools Block. To ensure schools are not disadvantaged, the DfE has made a baseline adjustment of £3.140m, allocated through the basic per pupil funding factor, Free School Meals Ever 6 factor, and the lump sum factor.

A comparison of the provisional allocation for 2026/27 with the final 2025/26 Schools Block allocation, adjusted for the separate grants, is detailed in the report pack.