Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average cost was of educating a pupil in a (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local authority area in the latest period for which data is available.

The department holds data on funding levels. However, it does not hold data on the specific local authority level costs of educating primary and secondary pupils.

The published dedicated schools grant (DSG) for 2024/2025 includes information on the amount of core schools funding allocated by the department nationally as well as to each local authority. The published information can be found here: https://skillsfunding.service.gov.uk/view-latest-funding/national-funding-allocations/DSG/2024-to-2025. The published information includes the amount of funding allocated in respect of primary and secondary pupils in mainstream schools, referred to as the ‘primary schools unit of funding’ and ‘secondary schools unit of funding’.

In addition to the funding from the DSG, schools may also receive additional school funding from other grants in the 2024/25 financial year, including:

• The teachers’ pay additional grant 2024 to 2025. More information is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-pay-additional-grant-2024-to-2025.
• The teachers’ pension employer contribution grant 2024. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-pension-employer-contribution-grant-2024-for-schools-high-needs-settings-and-local-authorities-2024-to-2025/teachers-pension-employer-contribution-grant-tpecg-2024-methodology.
• The pupil premium grant 2024 to 2025. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2024-to-2025.

Additional grants provided on an academic year basis include:

• The PE and Sport premium grant 2023 to 2024. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pe-and-sport-premium-conditions-of-grant-2023-to-2024.
• The Universal infant free school meals funding 2023 to 2024. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-infant-free-school-meals-uifsm-2023-to-2024.