Mainstream schools additional grant (MSAG) school level allocations

The ESFA have now published the mainstream schools additional grant (MSAG) school level allocations for 2023 to 2024 and conditions of grant.

This follows the 2022 Autumn statement announcement that the core school budget will increase by £2 billion for 2023 to 2024 financial year (and the following financial year), over and above the totals announced in the 2021 Spending Review. The MSAG allocates mainstream schools' portion of this funding increase.

The final allocations are similar (within 1%) to the amounts estimated and shared with schools in January, with small differences in about half of schools due to 0.5 funding for dual registered pupils and the use of finalised FSM6 numbers.

Payment will be made in two tranches

Payment will be made in two tranches – April 2023 to cover the period April to August 2023 and October 2023 to cover the period September 2023 to March 2024.

This is in addition to schools’ allocations through the schools national funding formula. The intention is that payment of this additional funding in the form of a separate grant will be for 2023 to 2024 only. The funding will then be incorporated into core budget allocations for 2024 to 2025.