England’s schools to be given less money after DfE admits bungling figures

In a letter issued on Friday evening, the DfE’s permanent secretary said her department had issued revised figures under the national funding formula for schools. Photograph: Jim Wileman/The Guardian

The Department for Education has admitted to bungling its funding figures for state schools in England next year, after revealing a £370m error in previous announcements by ministers.

The DfE’s mistake means that mainstream primary and secondary schools will be given at least £50 less a pupil than originally forecast, forcing school leaders to redraw their budgets for 2024-25. For a typical secondary school the loss equates to a teacher’s salary.