Twigg seeks answers over free school accounts
HALTON MP Derek Twigg has again probed education minister Edward Timpson over a Runcorn free school’s finances.
Mr Twigg, Labour, asked Mr Timpson, Conservative, why the secondary received Education Funding Agency (EFA) advanced funding and how much, and why the establishment’s accounts referred to a £522,760 deficit.
The written questions came just a week after Mr Twigg quizzed Mr Timpson on Sandymoor’s finances and educational attainment.
The minister said the school had not received any EFA cash.
He added that the school has a carry-forward surplus of £173,401.
Mr Timpson had told Mr Twigg that the Government had ‘no concerns’ over Sandymoor School’s finances. ●
Last week’s Weekly News reported the figures from the secondary’s annual report and financial statement, which said that the school had a £522,760 deficit due to ‘overstaffing’ and was looking to make redundancies and use EFA advanced funding as part of its recovery plan.
The accounts filed in the report were for the year to August 31, 2016.
Page four of the document said a staff review and restructure had taken place to ‘ensure best value for money’. Sandymoor opened in 2012. It has been graded ‘good’ by Ofsted but Mr Timpson has said it remains an ‘academy of concern’ because of its lower-thanaverage Progress 8 score in last year’s GCSEs.
The school’s governors include Daresbury councillor John Bradshaw and Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans, both Conservative.
In reply to Mr Twigg’s latest round of questions, Mr Timpson said: “We are looking into the reference to a deficit of £522,760 and we will seek clarification from the trust on the issues raised.”
Sandymoor School has been approached for comment. ● ●