Written question WQ96240

There is no single agreed definition of ‘rural’ or ‘rural school’. The definition of a rural school in the School Organisation Code is specifically for the purposes of the procedural presumption against the closure of rural schools and should not be used for any other purpose.

Decisions on the level of funding available to schools and to other services are made by each authority as part of their overall budget and council tax setting. This is in line with the Welsh Government’s policy that local authorities are best placed to judge local needs and circumstances and to fund schools accordingly.

We have prioritised funding for schools within the Education Budget. In 2025-26, over £402m is being provided through the Local Authority Education Grant to help local authorities, schools and settings support our learners. This does not include funding which is also being provided for demand-led schemes, including UPFSM and School Essentials Grant, which will provide a further £126m.

Through additional in-year funding in 2024-25 and additional funding allocated when setting the 2025-26 Budget, the education sector is benefitting from an extra £262.5m, with schools, colleges and other settings receiving funding to help meet the needs of learners across Wales. This is made up of £151m additional funding for 2024-25 and £111.5m allocated in the 2025-26 Final Budget.

This is all in addition to the increase of £262m (4.5%) to the Local Government Settlement in 2025-26, which recognises the powerful points that local authority partners and our schools have made around pressures to deliver upon the statutory responsibility for ALN and wider education provision.