15 March 2002
From next month, sixth forms will be funded by local LSCs instead of councils, although the money will be passed from LSCs to the local authority so that schools receive all of their funding in one pot.
Schools had been guaranteed a minimum level of funding providing that numbers of students did not fall, but LSC chief executive John Harwood claimed on March 11 that the news was better than expected.
A total of £1.35bn will be spent on sixth forms up to July 2003 - after which they will move on to a 12-month cycle in the same way as further education colleges. The sum includes nearly £140m for sixth formers with statements of special educational needs.
'Around two-thirds of all schools have been allocated more than [their] guaranteed funding level,' said Harwood.
'I am delighted that ministers have agreed to an arrangement that ensures no authority loses any funding overall from the transfer arrangements.'
PFmar2002
