National funding formula: a summary

Learn which factors are included in the national funding formula (NFF), and what the current transitional state of the NFF means for your school.

Last reviewed on 11 May 2023
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School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 34002
Contents
  1. How the formula works
  2. You're not guaranteed the initial figures published by the government
  3. Your funding is still based on your LA's local funding formula during the transition stage
  4. Your funding can fluctuate each year
  5. Some parts of your funding are guaranteed

This article is for mainstream, state-funded schools in England, and summarises the national funding formula (NFF) 2023-24 policy paper and the schools block technical note, picking out the key points you need to know.

The NFF is in a transitional state. Read more about what this means below.

How the formula works

The NFF is the series of building blocks the DfE uses to work out your school’s core funding allocation.

Each summer, the DfE publishes a ‘notional budget’ at school level, but the end amount your school receives might be different (see below to find out why).

The structure of the NFF is summarised in this diagram:

NFF

Please note: the diagram in the policy paper for 2023-24 is missing the 'growth'

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