FOI CRM 005467368 Chris Powell Secondary School Average Funding

Education Funding Agency
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London

SW1P 3BT

Tel: 0370 000 2288
www.gov.uk/efa

Email enquiry form:
www.education.gov.uk/contactus/efa

Date: 23rd November 2016

Ref: ENQ-192151-D5S7Q2

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Dear Mr Jolley,

Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 25th October 2016. You requested:

“I would like to know which free schools have been informed they will have some of their funding clawed back due to lower then expected numbers.

I would also like to know the amounts involved for each of the individual schools and if possible how much has actually been recovered as of today.”

The funding agreements for schools initially funded on the basis of estimated pupil numbers include a clause to the effect that the Education Funding Agency (EFA) will calculate adjustments in each academic year, to bring allocations back into line with the actual number of pupils on roll, as reported by institutions in their schools census returns. This is referred to as a Pupil Number Adjustment (PNA).

The most recent year that we have PNA data for is 2015/16. The EFA is just starting to calculate PNA for the current academic year, 2016/17, and schools will be notified of any adjustments in the Spring.

As requested, I have attached a table at Annex A which shows 2015/16 PNA for free schools. Adjustments can be positive as well as negative - where a census return shows that a school has recruited more pupils than originally estimated. Positive adjustments generate additional payments. For negative PNA the EFA will recovery funding in instalments from the following academic year's grant allocation.

As we have not completed calculations for the recovery of 2015/16 PNA from 2016/17 grant allocations we do not hold information on how much will be recovered at this time.

I have dealt with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled, you should make a complaint to the Department by writing to me within two calendar months of the date of this letter . Your complaint will be considered by an independent review pane, who were not involved in the original consideration of your request.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint to the Department, you may then contact the Information Commissioner's Office.

Yours sincerely

Richard Stewart

Academies and Maintained Schools Funding Division

Education Funding Agency

Annex A

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