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Written question asked by Natasha Irons (Labour) on Monday, 20 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 April 2026. It was answered by Josh MacAlister (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Secondary Education: Disadvantaged

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has conducted a comparative analysis of the per-pupil funding allocated to disadvantaged students in (a) Key Stage 4 and (b) 16 to 19 education; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of funding differentials on the attainment of young people from low-income backgrounds.

Answer

The national funding formula (NFF) for school pupils up to age 16 reflects additional needs of pupils, including economic disadvantage, low prior attainment, English as an additional language and pupil mobility. In the 2026/27 academic year, £5.6 billion (11.0%) of the NFF has been allocated according to “deprivation” factors reflecting economic disadvantage and £9.2 billion (18.1%) has been allocated for additional needs overall. In addition to funding through the NFF, schools also receive pupil premium funding for disadvantaged pupils.

Disadvantage funding for 16 to 19 year-old students is provided linked to students’ economic deprivation and low prior attainment. We also allocate English and maths funding to support students aged 16 to 19 who have not achieved a GCSE grade 4 or above in English and maths. In total, 16 to 19 disadvantage and English and maths funding came to £1 billion in the 2025/26 academic year allocations, or 12% of total programme funding.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
128336
Session
2024-26
Related items
Secondary Education: Disadvantaged
Friday, 5 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Disadvantaged Low incomes Per capita costs Secondary education
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk