Agenda Item 5

Report to:	East Sussex Schools’ Forum
Date of meeting:	14 November 2025
Report By:	Carolyn Fair
Title:	School Funding Formula – Exceptional Circumstances
Purpose:	To inform Schools’ Forum of the LA’s intention to request an additional Funding Factor for some School Budgets.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1) Schools’ Forum are asked to note the LA’s intention to submit a request to use an ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ Funding factor for 2026/27.

1 Background

School budgets are funded via a National Funding Formula using a small number of funding factors specified by the DfE.

Due to the small number of allowable Funding Factors, the DfE have allowed Local authorities to submit requests, to the DfE, to use an ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ funding factor relating to school Premises (rents).    

The purpose of the ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ factor is to support schools who rent an additional building to meet curriculum and catering requirements for pupils.

Local authorities can only submit applications where the value of the factor is more than 1% of an individual school’s / academy’s budget and the factor applies to fewer than 5% of schools / academies.

East Sussex are intending to submit an application, to the DfE, which relates to 3 schools who are unavoidably renting additional buildings to meet expected requirements. The average NOR for these schools is 85 and the total funding support being requested is £45k.

If the application is successful, this would result in additional funding into the Schools Block for these schools. It should be noted that there is no guarantee that the DfE will approve the request, each application is reviewed on an individual basis.

Carolyn Fair

Director Childrens Services

Contact Officer: Ed Beale
Tel. No. 01273 337984

Email: Edward.beale@eastsussex.gov.uk