18 October 2022
The Government of Jersey has published a simpler, clearer funding formula setting out how
budgets are established for the Island’s schools.
The Jersey Funding Formula for Schools has been developed following the Independent School
Funding Review which took place in 2020. The review recommended that Jersey adopt a simpler
funding formula to offer all schools and colleges equitable and flexible budgets.
Under the previous system, school funding was allocated based on an Average Weighted Pupil Unit
(APWU) methodology. APWU allocated costs to each area of spend (for example, building
maintenance, teacher salaries), but did not accurately reflect the underlying needs of children
attending the school which reduced schools’ ability to plan.
The new funding formula puts much more focus on the context of each school, and allocates
funding accordingly. This means that schools receive more funding if they have more children with
Special Educational Needs (SEN), a Record of Need (RoN), low prior attainment, who speak English
as an additional language, or who have speech and language difficulties.
The 2022 formula marks a transition point between the old APWU methodology, and the new
approach. Over the next 12 months work will continue on the formula, to ensure that it more
effectively allocates funds to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). This is directly
aligned with proposed increases in funding for schools set out in the Government Plan 2023-26.
Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Inna Gardiner, said: “Teachers and headteachers have
told us that the current formula is too complicated, too outdated, and often leads to additional
requests for funding.
“This is the first time that we have published the school funding formula, to share with Islanders
how we use our financial resources to best support children and young people. I hope that this
increased transparency will allow us to have productive conversations with stakeholders – including
schools – about how we can keep refining this formula to give all children the best outcomes.
"This has been a complex process, especially given that we are transitioning between two
approaches. I’d like to thank the officers who have spent the last 12 months working on this, and
my predecessor, Deputy Scott Wickenden.
“Officers will continue to work on the formula, and I intend to publish the updated 2023 formula in
Q1 next year.”
The Jersey Funding Formula is available via the Government of Jersey website.
gov.je