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<p>The national funding formula includes support for schools in rural areas, and the
sparsity factor allocates additional funding of £25 million specifically to remote
schools. The formula also provides a lump sum of £110,000 for every school as a contribution
to the costs that do not vary with pupil numbers. This aims to give schools certainty
that they will attract a fixed amount each year in addition to their pupil-led funding.</p><p>When
the lump sum is coupled with the sparsity factor, this provides significant support
for small and remote schools that play an essential role in rural communities. A small,
rural primary school eligible for sparsity funding will attract up to £135,000 in
total through the lump sum and sparsity factors and a small secondary school will
attract up to £175,000.</p><p>In addition, the formula has already allocated an increase
for every pupil in every school in 2018-19, with increases of up to 3% per pupil for
the most underfunded schools, including some in rural areas. In 2019-20, those schools
that have been historically underfunded will see further gains of up to 3% per pupil,
as the Department continues to make progress in addressing historic unfairness. Alongside
this, the Department has been able to ensure that all schools will attract an increase
of 1% per pupil by 2019-20, compared to 2017-18.</p>
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