Management Information Sheet
Changes to Broadband Funding and Charging for 2013-14
The Children's Services Fair Funding Consultation 2012 includes proposed changes to Broadband funding for 2013-14. These are shown at the bottom of this document.
ICT Shared Services has reviewed the Broadband charging mechanism to reflect the funding changes and assuming that the proposal is approved will apply the following charging formula for 2013-14:
This means that based on current pupil numbers the smallest secondary schools would pay approximately £10300 and the largest secondary schools would pay approximately £22640.
For Academies and schools converting to Academies during the September 12 - August 13 contract year this means:
The current published price for 12 - 13 contract year is £29,890 for secondary and £3,680 for primary. Funding for September to March 13 reflects this charging model.
We will pro rata the revised charging model from April 2013 so that Academies are not disadvantaged by the changes in funding if the proposals accepted.
Changes to Broadband funding for 2013-14 detail from the Children's Services Fair Funding Consultation 2012:
Broadband
Schools currently receive funding for broadband, providing that they are on the Norfolk network and have broadband installed for at least one year, at the following rates:
The total allocation for mainstream schools and academies is £2.7m.
The current broadband charges equal the funded amounts allocated.
Under the new arrangements the use of a broadband factor is not permitted, and there is an added complication of not being able to add broadband funding into the main 'Lump Sum' factor at different rates for primary and secondary schools because all mainstream schools and academies must receive the same level of lump sum from April 2013.
Therefore, a new formula is required to ensure that appropriate funding reaches schools and reflects broadband charges for 2013/14.
Conclusion
The Formula Review Project Board concluded that the funding for broadband should be allocated via the new 'Lump Sum' factor at an appropriate rate for primary schools, with a per-pupil top-up for secondary schools via the 'Basic Per-Pupil Entitlement' factor.
The broadband charge for primary schools will be set at £5,500 for 2013/14, and so it is proposed to include this amount within the 'Lump Sum' factor for all schools. This would leave approximately £442k of funding to be targeted towards secondary schools via per-pupil amounts. Secondary schools would then be charged the £5,500 lump sum plus a per-pupil top-up to buy into the service. The total broadband charge for secondary schools will be guaranteed not to exceed the current charge of £29,890.
Proposal
An allocation of £5,500 per school should be added to the 'Lump Sum' factor, with an additional top-up for the secondary sector via the 'Basic Per-Pupil Entitlement' factor. (Proposal 23)"
The full Fair Funding Consultation document is available here.
ICT Shared Services has reviewed the Broadband charging mechanism to reflect the funding changes and assuming that the proposal is approved will apply the following charging formula for 2013-14:
| Primary and special schools | £5,500 |
| Secondary schools | £5,500 + £12 per pupil. |
This means that based on current pupil numbers the smallest secondary schools would pay approximately £10300 and the largest secondary schools would pay approximately £22640.
For Academies and schools converting to Academies during the September 12 - August 13 contract year this means:
The current published price for 12 - 13 contract year is £29,890 for secondary and £3,680 for primary. Funding for September to March 13 reflects this charging model.
We will pro rata the revised charging model from April 2013 so that Academies are not disadvantaged by the changes in funding if the proposals accepted.
Changes to Broadband funding for 2013-14 detail from the Children's Services Fair Funding Consultation 2012:
Broadband
Schools currently receive funding for broadband, providing that they are on the Norfolk network and have broadband installed for at least one year, at the following rates:
| Primary | = £3,680 fixed sum |
| Secondary | = £29,890 fixed sum |
The total allocation for mainstream schools and academies is £2.7m.
The current broadband charges equal the funded amounts allocated.
Under the new arrangements the use of a broadband factor is not permitted, and there is an added complication of not being able to add broadband funding into the main 'Lump Sum' factor at different rates for primary and secondary schools because all mainstream schools and academies must receive the same level of lump sum from April 2013.
Therefore, a new formula is required to ensure that appropriate funding reaches schools and reflects broadband charges for 2013/14.
Conclusion
The Formula Review Project Board concluded that the funding for broadband should be allocated via the new 'Lump Sum' factor at an appropriate rate for primary schools, with a per-pupil top-up for secondary schools via the 'Basic Per-Pupil Entitlement' factor.
The broadband charge for primary schools will be set at £5,500 for 2013/14, and so it is proposed to include this amount within the 'Lump Sum' factor for all schools. This would leave approximately £442k of funding to be targeted towards secondary schools via per-pupil amounts. Secondary schools would then be charged the £5,500 lump sum plus a per-pupil top-up to buy into the service. The total broadband charge for secondary schools will be guaranteed not to exceed the current charge of £29,890.
Proposal
An allocation of £5,500 per school should be added to the 'Lump Sum' factor, with an additional top-up for the secondary sector via the 'Basic Per-Pupil Entitlement' factor. (Proposal 23)"
The full Fair Funding Consultation document is available here.