Herefordshire continues to lobby government for fairer funding for schools
http://www.dailyfix.co.uk/articles/81075/1/Herefordshire-continues-to-lobby-government-for-fairer-funding-for-schools/Page1.html
By Chief Editor
Published on 26 Jan 2010
A delegation from Herefordshire met with Minister for Schools and Learners, Vernon Coaker yesterday (January 25) to lobby for fairer funding for the county’s schools. This follows a similar meeting which took place between Herefordshire Council and the previous Minister for Schools, Jim Knight in March 2008.
Herefordshire Council’s director of children’s services Sharon Menghini, was invited to join MPs Bill Wiggin and Paul Keetch, Peter Box, head of Sutton, Lord Scudamore and Kings Caple primary schools, Chris Barker, head of Fairfield High School, Denise Kennedy, vice chair of governors at Kingstone High School and John Spackman, community governor at Dilwyn Primary School.
The delegation told the minster that Herefordshire remains the third worst funded authority in the country which has made development, investment and opportunities for improvement very difficult. As pupil numbers fall, Herefordshire is facing reduced funding and as schools feel the squeeze on budgets, there is serious concern that the quality of education is likely to suffer.
Mr Coaker heard about the difficulties local schools have recruiting head teachers, the growing number of schools with budget deficits and the rising costs of school redundancies.
“We are already beginning to see the quality of education being affected by reduced funding and are concerned that we have more schools needing local authority support and a growing number in Ofsted categories,” said Sharon Menghini, director of children’s services.
Mr Coaker explained that the way schools are funded is set to change in 2011 and that as a result of a nationwide consultation, five key principles would be used to set funding from 2011. Although he was unable to provide detail, he explained that the new formula will continue to work on an amount per pupil with additions made for sparsity, additional educational needs, deprivation and area cost adjustment.
“Collectively we outlined our hopes that future funding would align Herefordshire with average levels of funding rather than remaining one of the poorest,” continued Sharon Menghini. “Although the meeting went well and Mr Coaker listened to our concerns, he explained that any change would produce winners and losers and that all local authorities would have good arguments as to why their authority deserved more.
“The meeting was a welcome opportunity and of value in raising awareness and understanding of the issues with the minister although I believe we will continue to face challenging times in the months ahead.”
Herefordshire’s head teachers will discuss the implications of Mr Coaker’s comments and the new funding formula when they meet with the council’s director of children’s services on February 12.
Herefordshire Council’s director of children’s services Sharon Menghini, was invited to join MPs Bill Wiggin and Paul Keetch, Peter Box, head of Sutton, Lord Scudamore and Kings Caple primary schools, Chris Barker, head of Fairfield High School, Denise Kennedy, vice chair of governors at Kingstone High School and John Spackman, community governor at Dilwyn Primary School.
The delegation told the minster that Herefordshire remains the third worst funded authority in the country which has made development, investment and opportunities for improvement very difficult. As pupil numbers fall, Herefordshire is facing reduced funding and as schools feel the squeeze on budgets, there is serious concern that the quality of education is likely to suffer.
Mr Coaker heard about the difficulties local schools have recruiting head teachers, the growing number of schools with budget deficits and the rising costs of school redundancies.
“We are already beginning to see the quality of education being affected by reduced funding and are concerned that we have more schools needing local authority support and a growing number in Ofsted categories,” said Sharon Menghini, director of children’s services.
Mr Coaker explained that the way schools are funded is set to change in 2011 and that as a result of a nationwide consultation, five key principles would be used to set funding from 2011. Although he was unable to provide detail, he explained that the new formula will continue to work on an amount per pupil with additions made for sparsity, additional educational needs, deprivation and area cost adjustment.
“Collectively we outlined our hopes that future funding would align Herefordshire with average levels of funding rather than remaining one of the poorest,” continued Sharon Menghini. “Although the meeting went well and Mr Coaker listened to our concerns, he explained that any change would produce winners and losers and that all local authorities would have good arguments as to why their authority deserved more.
“The meeting was a welcome opportunity and of value in raising awareness and understanding of the issues with the minister although I believe we will continue to face challenging times in the months ahead.”
Herefordshire’s head teachers will discuss the implications of Mr Coaker’s comments and the new funding formula when they meet with the council’s director of children’s services on February 12.