2021 School Budget Allocation Report: RAM overview - NSW Department of Education - NSW ...
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NSW Department of Education 2021 School Budget Allocation Report: RAM overview education.nsw.gov.au
Minister’s message
In a year of extraordinary I am also pleased to confirm the continued delivery of
challenge, we continue to funding in the following areas:
provide funding certainty • $33.3 million to be distributed to schools for specific
to every NSW public school purposes (SSPs) as a short-term relief provision,
enabling SSP principals to be flexible in how
to ensure needs-based
they fill staffing gaps, after considering the local
funding is supporting workforce supply, the needs of individual students
improvement in student and the school as a whole
learning outcomes. • $52.6 million to reduce the administrative workload
of principals as part of the School Leadership
It has been a remarkable and unprecedented year
Strategy, providing principals with additional time
responding to the challenges presented by bushfires,
to focus on leading teaching and learning
drought and COVID-19. Staff across all our schools
have demonstrated great commitment to keeping • $19.3 million support to small schools with teaching
our schools safe and healthy places for our students to principals, including those in our rural and remote
learn, grow and flourish. settings.
This year has confirmed the critical role of education To reduce the administrative burden on schools, from
in preparing our young people to be ready to take 2021 the utilities allocation will be streamlined, with
on whatever challenges they might face. Every electricity and gas removed from the SBAR and the
student needs to be engaged in learning to meet the associated budgets and costs managed centrally.
challenges of a complex and dynamic society. The sharpened focus on school improvement
As we enter the eighth year of successfully delivering continues in 2021, with additional support and
needs-based funding to NSW public schools, the guidance for school leaders. I encourage each
distribution of funding through the RAM ensures and every one of you to engage with the process
certainty for schools and, importantly, that the best of integrating school funding within Strategic
possible learning opportunities are provided to directly Improvement Plans to maximise outcomes for every
benefit our 2021 student cohort. single student and sustain improvement over time.
The NSW Government reaffirms our commitment Schools are diverse and dynamic communities and
to the implementation of needs-based funding, school improvement is at the heart of the work we do.
ensuring the needs of our students are at the centre It must touch every classroom, be the work of every
of all decision making. We believe that every dollar teacher and impact every student. This is a really
counts and must be strategically invested so students exciting time for education in NSW.
that require additional assistance to meet their full
potential receive the support they need.
In 2021, $1.3 billion will be delivered to schools
through the seven RAM loadings – the four equity
loadings (socio-economic background, Aboriginal
background, low level adjustment for disability and The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC
English language proficiency), the initiative loading for Minister for Education and
professional learning and the base loadings of location Early Childhood Learning
and per capita. This represents an increase from $1.27 October 2020
billion in 2020.
education.nsw.gov.au 1Five principles underpin
the RAM methodology
1. The RAM is based on 2. The RAM is evidence 3. The RAM efficiently
student and school need. based. The components of and transparently directs
The funding provided to the model are underpinned funds to schools. Funding
schools reflects the needs of by educational research and flows directly to schools and
individual schools and their school and student data. school leaders know the
students. elements that make up their
funding allocation.
4. The RAM provides 5. The RAM is sustainable
certainty for schools. The and adaptable. The
model supports effective model has the capacity to
school planning and enables adapt to policy priorities
the needs of our most and changing student
vulnerable students to be populations in the future.
addressed.
Components of the RAM
Needs-based funding items RAM loadings
Refugee student support
1. Targeted
New Arrival Program
Funding Integration funding support
Socio-economic background Socio-economic background
Aboriginal background Aboriginal background
2. Equity English language English language
Loadings proficiency proficiency
Low level adjustment for Low level adjustment for
disability disability
Flexible funding for
Professional
3. Base wellbeing services (initiative)
learning (initiative)
School Early Action for Success
Per capita
Allocation (initiative)
Location
Location
education.nsw.gov.au 2Components of the RAM explained
The RAM recognises that students and 2. Equity loadings
school communities are not all the same.
They have different needs that require Socio-economic background
different levels of support. The socio-economic background equity loading is
to be used to meet the additional learning needs of
Needs-based funding students from low socio-economic backgrounds in
the school.
Needs-based funding is delivered through the RAM
and is defined as the recurrent resourcing targeted Aboriginal background
to students and schools based on demonstrated
educational disadvantage. This funding intends to The equity loading for Aboriginal background is to be
lift student learning outcomes and includes funding used to meet the specific learning needs of Aboriginal
distributed directly to schools, and other resourcing students in the school.
provided indirectly or centrally by the department.
English language proficiency
Through needs-based funding, we expect to see a
reduction in the difference in educational outcomes The equity loading for English language proficiency
between the least and most disadvantaged students provides support for students at all four phases of
in NSW public schools. English language learning – beginning, emerging,
developing and consolidating.
RAM loadings
Low level adjustment for disability
The seven RAM loadings typically do not change
The equity loading for low level adjustment for
between School Budget Allocation Report (SBAR) and
disability is an allocation to support students in
SBAR adjustments. This provides funding certainty
mainstream classes who have disability and additional
from year to year and enables schools to strategically
learning and support needs requiring an adjustment
plan the use of resources.
to their learning.
1. Targeted funding 3. Base school allocation
Many students with particular learning needs benefit
The base school allocation provides funding for the
from targeted individual support. Funding for this
core cost of educating each student and operating
support enables schools to respond to additional
a school.
student learning needs as they arise throughout the
school year. The base school allocation comprises staffing (at
standard cost) and operational funding.
The RAM delivers dedicated funding to support the
provision of personalised learning and support for
Initiative funding
these students.
Initiative funding provides additional school resources
This component of the RAM includes targeted funding
to support identified needs within the context of that
for eligible students, including:
school. Initiative funding allocations support school
• students from refugee backgrounds who have activities focused on achieving excellence in teaching
been enrolled in an Australian school for less than and learning.
three years
• newly arrived English as an additional language
or dialect (EAL/D) students at the beginning and
emerging phases of English language proficiency
• students with confirmed disability in mainstream
classes who require moderate to high levels of
adjustment.
education.nsw.gov.au 3How the funding supports Supporting the effective use of
students funding
“In schools that excel, resources are strategically A range of additional information, resources and
used to achieve high quality service delivery and professional learning opportunities are available for
improved student outcomes.” – The School Excellence principals and staff including:
Framework
• the SBAR resource hub, a central location on the
Funding delivered through the RAM must be department’s website for SBAR related information
effectively aligned to the initiatives in the school’s and support
Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP). The SIP will identify • the 2021 SBAR essentials, containing key
school staffing and other resources that are needed to information to ensure the purposeful use of
achieve maximum impact. All schools need to expend funding and examples of effective practice in
their funds in the calendar year in which those critical schools
resources are delivered.
• the SBAR: new and notable changes webinar is
Principals and school leaders in NSW public schools delivered to highlight key changes to allocations
are able to manage their total school budgets and/or methodologies, and the implications for
strategically in order to deliver improved learning school planning
outcomes for all students. Flexibility in the use of • the Excellence in resourcing course, a two-part
funding is about making evidence-based decisions course exploring School Excellence in Action from
and planning strategically to spend funding on the perspective of evidence-based best practice in
meeting both school and student needs. school resourcing
Schools use their funding to benefit students and the • the Introduction to the SBAR e-learning module,
whole school community in targeted and innovative providing deeper insights into allocation
ways, which include: methodologies and intended use of funding
• engaging expert teachers as instructional leaders • the SBAR: Getting started animation, providing an
to effectively lift student outcomes by building the introductory overview of the structure and purpose
capacity and professional knowledge of all teachers of the SBAR
• engaging specialist staff to collaborate with • leadership capacity development programs and
classroom teachers to build capacity in meeting resources coordinated by the School Leadership
the needs of identified students Institute, a component of the School Leadership
Strategy.
• enhancing community consultation and
engagement through parent education programs For information about how schools are effectively
and the employment of community liaison officers, using their funding to achieve improved student
Aboriginal community liaison officers and other outcomes, please visit the RAM page of the
key staff members department’s website.
• implementing programs including homework
clubs, outreach centres, and mindfulness and
positive psychology courses to enhance student
well-being
• sharing specialist staff such as business managers,
technical support officers, and subject specific
teachers within communities of schools.
Accountability for the effective use of the funds to
improve student learning occurs through School
Excellence in Action, and the Strategic Improvement
Planning and Annual Report process.
education.nsw.gov.au 4We acknowledge the homelands of all Aboriginal people and pay our respect to Country.
Say hello
@NSWDepartmentofEducation © 2019 NSW Department of Education
GPO Box 33 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia
@NSWEducation
T 1300 679 332
@NSWEducation
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