In 2015-16, in addition to funding all local authorities at the same cash level per pupil as in 2014-15, we will add a further £350 million funding for the least fairly-funded authorities.To allocate this as fairly as possible, we selected the characteristics we think contribute most to the attainment of pupils and viability of schools, and set indicative minimum funding levels for each of these. The characteristics we selected were as follows:<\/p>
1. An age-weighted basic per pupil unit of funding; and<\/p>
2. Additional units of funding for:<\/p>
2.1. deprived pupils;<\/p>
2.2. pupils with low attainment;<\/p>
2.3. pupils with English as an additional language;<\/p>
2.4. children who are looked after, for example in foster care;<\/p>
2.5. a lump sum for all schools, regardless of size, to help with fixed costs; and<\/p>
2.6. funding for schools serving sparsely populated rural areas.<\/p>
These are all characteristics that local authorities already use in distributing schools funding. We looked at the average value attached by local authorities to each of these characteristics and used these as a basis for our proposed minimum funding levels for primary and secondary pupils and schools. As Staffordshire already attracts funding above these levels, it does not stand to gain from these proposals.<\/p>
Full details of our methodology can be found in the consultation document at:<\/p>