Funding
Learning, teaching and managing with ICT remains a
key priority for the Department and funding continues to increase year on year.
Since 1998 investment in ICT has been significant and there has been a
substantial increase in the level of ICT capital funding available for schools
through the Standards Fund.
2006-2007
In addition to other grants allocated to schools to support teaching and learning, from April 2006 schools and local authorities can use the following grants which either have ICT funding included within them or are for a specific ICT purpose:
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Grant 201 — Devolved Formula Capital
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Grant 101 — School Development Grant
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Grant 121 — Connectivity and Learning Systems Grant
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Grant 122 — e-Learning Credits (eLCS)
eLC funding
A further £125million has been announced for 2006/07. To read the press announcement, click here.
Computers for Pupils funding
Funding allocations for this £60 million initiative have been announced for 2006-07 and 2007-08. You can read the letter to Directors of Children's Services and Chief Education Officers in participating local authorities and the guidance documents here.
Funding Changes
The changes made to the way in which schools receive
their budgets have been designed to increase schools' flexibility
and autonomy, as well as reducing bureaucracy. This should allow schools
to become more strategic in their future ICT investments.
The Standards Fund circular was issued to local authorites on 7th December 2005. The circular contains high level descriptions and allocations for Grants 101, 121, and 122. The full circular and allocations are available in Schools Funding.
Under the new school funding arrangements, the revenue element of Grant 31a (currently match-funded by LAs) will be added as a DCSF grant to the School Development Grant. See New school funding arrangements from 2006/07. For specific details relating to the 'ICT in Schools' grant, see Chapter 5 of document 1, Explanatory note.
The capital element of Grant 31a will merge with Devolved Formual Capital (DFC) providing schools with one single source of devolved, formula based capital funding for ICT equipment, buildings and grounds.
The formula for allocating DFC to all schools and LAs until 2007-08 was also announced in December 2005. See the formula here.
Details of these Grants and how to make the most effective use of the funding available can be found in Learning, Teaching and Managing with ICT: Funding Guidance for Schools and Local Authorities 2006-2007.
Increased national digital infrastructure funding
In August 2006 a further £41 million of capital was allocated to
local authorities for this year to improve the national digital infrastructure
for their schools. For further information see the following
documents:
Other sources of funding
Schools may also wish to consider other sources of funding to support
their ICT purchases. The Becta website has some useful advice.
Last updated: 18 July 2008
