Fair Funding to Achieve Excellence and Equity in Education - A consultation

Overview

This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Government’s future approach to school funding.

The consultation invites views on the way education is currently funded in Scotland, the purpose of developing a new, more consistent approach to school funding, and the principles that should underpin any changes. It also sets out and seeks views on possible future approaches.

This consultation does not advocate a preferred Scottish Government approach. We want to hear your views as we develop options further.

Why your views matter

Effective governance needs to be supported by a fair and transparent funding system that puts children and young people at the heart of decision-making. It is right that, as part of our whole-system governance review, we ask whether current practice could be improved, and funded more targeted to where it is needed the most.

As set out in Next Steps, the Scottish Government does not intend to develop a fixednational funding formula. There is little direct evidence at present about the role and success of funding formulas in driving improved educational outcomes. In addition, moving towards a national funding formula could introduce unacceptable instability and inflexibility to education funding.

Funding can have an important role to play in achieving positive outcomes and supporting equity. The development of a fair, more consistent, transparent and targeted method of allocating funding could provide a way to address current equity issues within the system.

This consultation seeks views on two possible approaches to achieving that aim.

View the consultation paper.

What happens next

Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered, along with other available evidence, to help us shape future proposals for the funding Scottish education.