Funds shake-up delay ‘could soften blow for schools’

Kirkburton Middle School – one of only three Kirklees schools that would not have suffered a negative impact under the proposed funding formula to struggle while funding levels remain low.

The group presented a motion to council last month, outlining their concern about school funding, and asking chief executive Jacqui Gedman to encourage local MPs to raise the issue with the Education Secretary.

Clr Andrew Marchington said: “Schools and families in Kirklees need to know what this announcement means for them.

“We all need to know what it means in real terms for every pupil.

“The additional school funding needs to be set against inflationary costs and rising pupil numbers, while all schools will also be affected by the new national funding formula.

“These changes will impact on school budgets and the quality of education.

“Many of our schools are struggling, so it’s disappointing that there’s no ‘new’ money involved.

“The Government promised to increase the overall school budget by £4bn by 2022 in its recent manifesto and declared that no schools will experience funding cuts.

“This commitment needs to be honoured.”

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, said: “The delay indicates that even the Government recognises the scale of the challenge involved in creating a funding formula which enables schools to secure the educational entitlements of all children and young people.

“The devil will be in the detail of the Government’s proposals for reform to the school funding system, and it will be important that the details are considered carefully.

“A key challenge the Government faces in securing a fair funding system is a legacy of the last six years of misguided economic austerity which has been to the detriment of schools and pupils.”

Many of our schools are struggling, so it’s disappointing that there’s no ‘new’ money involved.