Management Information Sheet

Growth Funding Criteria

It was agreed by Schools Forum on 15 May 2013 that an additional criteria should be added to the Growth fund to allow for those schools that are suffering financial hardship due to the loss of Infant Class Size Grant (ICSG). Under the new funding formula, the ICSG was removed as a separate element, even though there is still the legal requirement for schools not to exceed 30 pupils in a combination of Year R and Key Stage 1 classes.

There is a small growth fund of £600,000 and this has to cover the additional new criteria as well as the existing three growth criteria, which are listed below.

1. Growth has been identified by the authority as required in the area for the following academic year - i.e. a comparison of numbers between the two October counts.
2. Growth must be the greater of 10% of a year group or 5 pupils and will be funded at 7/12 of Basic Pupil Entitlement.
3. Growth for an additional year group or class will be given at 7/12 of the Pupil Admission Number. e.g. A school is increasing from an intake of 30 pupils to 60 pupils p.a.- the school will therefore qualify for 30x7/12 AWPA.

Awards for Infant Class Size growth funding will not be made on the historic basis of the grant, as this is not a replacement for the old infant class size grant, as the funding previously allocated to this, is now distributed through the basic per pupil entitlement.

Any applications for Infant Class Size growth funding will be considered by a moderation panel consisting of the School's Finance Senior Management Team and should meet the below criteria;

• The school can demonstrate a new requirement for Infant Class Size funding and has not previously received funding in 2012/13 as this is protected under the Minimum Funding Guarantee
• The school can demonstrate that it cannot manage within it's current resources to provide sufficient classes for the number on roll.
• Consideration for additional funding will only be given to schools that would have qualified for funding under the old grant rules, of 20 phantom pupils or more.
• The school has 60 pupils and over.

Any requests for funding should be made in writing, should be from both the Headteacher and the Chair of Governors, and be either posted or sent by e-mail to the address below;

Sally Cutting
Management Accountant
School's Finance Team
Room 047, County Hall,
Martineau Lane, Norwich
NR1 2DL.
sally.cutting@norfolk.gov.uk