School Funding Consultation 2026-27
The Authority are unable to set out, as we would normally, our detailed proposals for our local mainstream funding formula. The indicative Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) settlement is usually announced at the start of the school summer holidays. Due to the Comprehensive Spending Review in June 2025 the provisional DSG funding settlement for 2026/27 has been delayed. Indications from the Department are that this should be announced in November 2025 but with no confirmation of a date at the time of writing.
The final settlement has historically been announced during the week before Parliament breaks for Christmas, which this year is on the 18th of December.
Even though there is a delay in announcing the provisional settlement, the DfE is not expected to extend the 2026/27 budget setting timetable. The Authority must therefore proceed with consulting with schools as the timetable will be very tight once the provisional settlement is known. The consultation document is written to this effect.
Recognising the issues that the delay in announcements causes, the Authority believes that the only available option is for us to consult now on how the Authority plans to calculate the local formula and the actions that will need to be undertaken to mainstream grants into the primary and secondary formula funding when modelling proposals.
To lessen the burden on schools and accommodate the tight timeframe it is proposed that only one consultation with schools will be carried out unless there are significant changes when the settlement is announced.
The consultation document linked below provides some context to current circumstances and the information that has currently been released by the department for education at the time of writing. This will support schools when answering the following consultation questions:
- Do you agree that the authority should increase the local formula values to reflect the grants being “rolled in” in the same way that has been applied by the DfE before adjustments are made to balance Schools Block DSG overall?
- Are you content to retain the Minimum funding guarantee at 0%?
- Do you support significant increases in the level of funding for deprivation and low prior attainment across both primary and secondary phases?
- Would you support a 0.5% block transfer from the school’s block to high needs to support complex needs funding into mainstream? for example above inflationary increases in HNF banding funding.
Respondents to the consultation are asked to complete the consultation response form.
The consultation closes on Friday 5th December 2025.
If you have any questions on this consultation, please e-mail csf.sfu@hertfordshire.gov.uk