An independent report, commissioned by the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, in October 2019, has shown that there are large differences between spending per learner even in similar areas of deprivation.
The report aimed to offer analysis and recommendations as to how the school funding system could be adapted to best support policy goals and ambitions to improve the school system in Wales.
There were several main points from the report that the Welsh Government intend to act on, including similar schools receiving up to 35% less per learner, as well as a fall in spending in real terms per learner by 6%, likely due to less funding and also increased class sizes.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams said:
“The Welsh Government is doing everything it can to ensure Wales’s public services have all the resources they need to respond to, and mitigate the impact of, the crisis.
“Now, more than ever, we need to understand the funding decisions made across Wales to secure equity and excellence for our learners.
“The publication of this report is therefore very timely as it provides evidence to enable policy makers to make informed decisions when considering funding for schools across Wales, continuing our overall aim of improving school standards and reducing inequalities.”
The report also highlights the growing evidence that funding for schools has knock-on positive impacts, particular when investing in deprived areas.
