School funding - Section 251 budget statements

The council must publish our Section 251 budget statements. Find out what they are for and download statements.

Purpose of financial statements

The council must publish our school budget statements. We are required to do this under section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009.

The size of the Schools Budget and the amounts to be allocated to each part depend on budget decisions taken by the council before the year.

Budget statements are how we tell schools and the public in general about our funding plans.  

The copy of the statement that schools receive for each period is intended to provide a clear picture of the our planned spending.

They show:

  • how much we intend to spend on the Non-Schools Education Budget outside the Schools Budget and other children’s social care
  • how much of the Schools Budget we will keep centrally for services to schools
  • how the local formula is working to produce budget shares for each school in the city

It is important that schools forums and others can look at the differences in funding between different local authorities. The statements are prepared to a common format. This helps us discuss the budget levels and make comparisons around issues such as the balance of funding between early years, primary, secondary and special schools. 

Section 251 reports for 2018-19

PDF files

Microsoft Excel files

Section 251 reports for 2017-18

PDF files

Microsoft Excel files

Section 251 reports for 2016-17

PDF files

Microsoft Excel files

Section 251 reports for 2015-16

PDF files

Microsoft Excel files

Section 251 reports for 2014-15

PDF files

Microsoft Excel files

Section 251 reports for 2013-14 

PDF files

Microsoft Excel files

More information on schools spending

Section 251 Outturn Statements

Find out more about the Schools Forum