State funding collapsing for top grammars.
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State funding collapsing for top grammars.
Dear Mrs ******, Altrincham Grammar School For Girls has sent you a message
Have Your Say on the New National Funding Formula - Deadline 22 March
Dear Parents/Carers
I have written to you on a number of occasions concerning the issue of funding for AGGS. Indeed, earlier this term I had to write to Year 11 parents explaining how the government cuts to our school budget, which we have experienced year on year for five years and which are continuing to accelerate, will affect the curriculum we can offer our students in Year 12. You may also have seen a number of news stories in recent weeks, in both the local and national press, regarding the developing crisis in school funding.
The government is currently consulting on their proposals to introduce a new national funding formula, which will calculate the amount of funding per student that each school across the country will receive, beginning in 2019. At present the amount of funding any school receives is based on the historic investment in education that local authorities chose to make in the days when they controlled school budgets in the 1980s. Some authorities, such as Trafford, chose to spend relatively little on schools, others (particularly in inner cities such as London or Manchester) invested far more considerable sums in education. When central government introduced formula funding of schools in 1988, these historic differences were frozen into the system so that the same child would attract very different funding for their school depending on where they live. This is despite the fact that schools across the country provide a very similar curriculum and face similar staff costs.
The government claim the current system for distributing school funding is unfair, opaque and outdated. They are right. However, when they say that their proposals to introduce a new national funding formula will create a system that funds schools fairly, they are, quite simply, wrong. ‘Fair funding’ would start with a calculation of the real cost of providing the sort of curriculum a school is expected to offer. ‘Fair funding’ would then provide this level of funding as a minimum for all schools of that type and add extra funding on top, where it was needed, to support students with additional needs (such as disadvantaged students, those with special educational needs or English as an additional language). This is not the government’s proposal. Instead they are using the new national funding formula to help deliver £3 billion pounds of cuts.
For an 11-16 secondary school to be sustainable, a figure that has been widely quoted is a minimum basic funding level of £4,800 per pupil. We currently receive around £4,200 per pupil, so are already underfunded by over £600,000 a year, without taking into account the poverty of funding for sixth form students. Contrast this with some schools in London, for example, where the basic funding levels are generally over £6,000 per pupil (and which do not take into account the additional funding provided for disadvantaged pupils in the form of pupil premium). Even a couple of miles away from us, in Manchester, school can receive £500 more per pupil than we do in basic funding.
Despite this obvious inequity, and the fact that Trafford is the seventh worst funded authority in the country this year, the proposals for the national funding formula will result in further cuts to our funding. I cannot see how the government can describe this as funding schools “fairly”.
There is no doubt that such cuts would have a direct impact on the education we are able to provide for your daughters. That is why today I am writing to ask for your help. We need to make our voices heard by this government, to prevent the unprecedented detriment their proposals would bring to the education system as a whole and to AGGS in particular.
The governments proposed formula is under consultation and we would urge all parents to reply to this before the Wednesday 22 March deadline at https://consult.education.gov.uk/fundin ... -formula2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Attached is the school’s response which you may wish to use to assist in making your own response.
However, we would also urge you to write to your MP to express your opposition to the proposals which have been put forward. MPs need to know how their constituents feel about these proposals and the weight of opinion in opposition to them. Please support us by writing urgently on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Stephanie Gill - Principal
I don't know what to make of it
-it must be a first when a school prestigious as AGGS is urging their parents to revolt.
Have Your Say on the New National Funding Formula - Deadline 22 March
Dear Parents/Carers
I have written to you on a number of occasions concerning the issue of funding for AGGS. Indeed, earlier this term I had to write to Year 11 parents explaining how the government cuts to our school budget, which we have experienced year on year for five years and which are continuing to accelerate, will affect the curriculum we can offer our students in Year 12. You may also have seen a number of news stories in recent weeks, in both the local and national press, regarding the developing crisis in school funding.
The government is currently consulting on their proposals to introduce a new national funding formula, which will calculate the amount of funding per student that each school across the country will receive, beginning in 2019. At present the amount of funding any school receives is based on the historic investment in education that local authorities chose to make in the days when they controlled school budgets in the 1980s. Some authorities, such as Trafford, chose to spend relatively little on schools, others (particularly in inner cities such as London or Manchester) invested far more considerable sums in education. When central government introduced formula funding of schools in 1988, these historic differences were frozen into the system so that the same child would attract very different funding for their school depending on where they live. This is despite the fact that schools across the country provide a very similar curriculum and face similar staff costs.
The government claim the current system for distributing school funding is unfair, opaque and outdated. They are right. However, when they say that their proposals to introduce a new national funding formula will create a system that funds schools fairly, they are, quite simply, wrong. ‘Fair funding’ would start with a calculation of the real cost of providing the sort of curriculum a school is expected to offer. ‘Fair funding’ would then provide this level of funding as a minimum for all schools of that type and add extra funding on top, where it was needed, to support students with additional needs (such as disadvantaged students, those with special educational needs or English as an additional language). This is not the government’s proposal. Instead they are using the new national funding formula to help deliver £3 billion pounds of cuts.
For an 11-16 secondary school to be sustainable, a figure that has been widely quoted is a minimum basic funding level of £4,800 per pupil. We currently receive around £4,200 per pupil, so are already underfunded by over £600,000 a year, without taking into account the poverty of funding for sixth form students. Contrast this with some schools in London, for example, where the basic funding levels are generally over £6,000 per pupil (and which do not take into account the additional funding provided for disadvantaged pupils in the form of pupil premium). Even a couple of miles away from us, in Manchester, school can receive £500 more per pupil than we do in basic funding.
Despite this obvious inequity, and the fact that Trafford is the seventh worst funded authority in the country this year, the proposals for the national funding formula will result in further cuts to our funding. I cannot see how the government can describe this as funding schools “fairly”.
There is no doubt that such cuts would have a direct impact on the education we are able to provide for your daughters. That is why today I am writing to ask for your help. We need to make our voices heard by this government, to prevent the unprecedented detriment their proposals would bring to the education system as a whole and to AGGS in particular.
The governments proposed formula is under consultation and we would urge all parents to reply to this before the Wednesday 22 March deadline at https://consult.education.gov.uk/fundin ... -formula2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Attached is the school’s response which you may wish to use to assist in making your own response.
However, we would also urge you to write to your MP to express your opposition to the proposals which have been put forward. MPs need to know how their constituents feel about these proposals and the weight of opinion in opposition to them. Please support us by writing urgently on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Stephanie Gill - Principal
I don't know what to make of it
-it must be a first when a school prestigious as AGGS is urging their parents to revolt.Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
This is what was part of the weekly e mail sent to all parents by the headmistress of Wolverhampton High School for Girls Trudi Young seeking for parents to respond and to put in their objections.
"I write to draw your attention to an ongoing Department for Education consultation about the proposed
National Funding Formula. Over recent years, schools have faced increased costs, whilst budgets have
remained relatively stable. The National Funding Formula is aiming to improve fairness across the country
with respect to ensuring that schools receive comparable funding.
You may have seen this reported in the media over recent weeks as unpopular and failing to address the
main issues.
Unfortunately we are one of over two thirds of the country’s grammar schools who will see a reduction in
our funding if this is introduced. From 2019 onwards, our funding would be reduced by £86,000 each
year.
I would encourage you to complete the consultation.
https://consult.education.gov.uk/fundin ... -formula2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I hope it is helpful to share with you some extracts from the School’s responses for a couple of the
questions, they are:
Q4
Absolutely No! There is a need to increase per pupil funding not reduce it. Furthermore this is duplicate
funding for those schools who already receive additional funding to meet these additional needs.
Q14
There is a strong need to increase the basic per pupil funding to all schools. If this is not possible I
support the introduction of a minimum per pupil floor of £4800."
This maybe part of a national campaign.
There are already signs that the government is under pressure and the indications are they will make changes if they are put under sufficient pressure.
"I write to draw your attention to an ongoing Department for Education consultation about the proposed
National Funding Formula. Over recent years, schools have faced increased costs, whilst budgets have
remained relatively stable. The National Funding Formula is aiming to improve fairness across the country
with respect to ensuring that schools receive comparable funding.
You may have seen this reported in the media over recent weeks as unpopular and failing to address the
main issues.
Unfortunately we are one of over two thirds of the country’s grammar schools who will see a reduction in
our funding if this is introduced. From 2019 onwards, our funding would be reduced by £86,000 each
year.
I would encourage you to complete the consultation.
https://consult.education.gov.uk/fundin ... -formula2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I hope it is helpful to share with you some extracts from the School’s responses for a couple of the
questions, they are:
Q4
Absolutely No! There is a need to increase per pupil funding not reduce it. Furthermore this is duplicate
funding for those schools who already receive additional funding to meet these additional needs.
Q14
There is a strong need to increase the basic per pupil funding to all schools. If this is not possible I
support the introduction of a minimum per pupil floor of £4800."
This maybe part of a national campaign.
There are already signs that the government is under pressure and the indications are they will make changes if they are put under sufficient pressure.
In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
-
kenyancowgirl
- Posts: 6738
- Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:59 pm
Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
It is happening all over the country - we have already responded on behalf of our school. Worryingly, a vast swathe of schools have already been forced to make massive cuts whilst a huge number of schools, in the South East in particular, have not...(anyone would think the majority of the government is based there, or something!) School sare having costs imposed on them (in the case of increased salary/NI demands etc) which they have no control over - and cannot minimise in any sensible way - ie they cannot cut anything any further in schools that have already made massive cuts. But their funding is not increasing to even cover these forced increases. Herein lies the problem. The funding formula is not fair and should start from a base that covers the non cuttable costs. Currently some of the base figure is calculated to be the same for primary and secondary schools - which generally is a nonsense due to relative sizes etc. It is not specifically a problem for GS either - all schools are affected and the majority will lose finance - headteachers locally have all got together and written out jointly (not just GS heads) explaining that they will have to lose something like the equivalent of 6 teachers per school if this is introduced. Hopefully it is another thing that will be overturned and soon.
Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
We have had this from both DCs schools - GS and comp. ALL schools, or at least the vast majority, are facing cuts in real terms, not just GS.
JD
JD
Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
Have a look here - http://www.schoolcuts.org.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - sorry am on phone so can't link.
JD
JD
Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
Our local MP claims that the problem is schools paying their teachers too much and having to pay their pensions.
This is after taking a delegation of local heads from Reading and Wokingham to Westminster to see Nick Gibb to talk about funding.
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... s-12734958" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This is after taking a delegation of local heads from Reading and Wokingham to Westminster to see Nick Gibb to talk about funding.
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... s-12734958" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
Our MP was a gov at DD's school before he became an MP and still visits regularly. Have yet to hear any response from him, not sure about the MP whose constituency DS's school is in. Both are Tory ...
They all just seem clueless with no understanding of our education system - I guess this shouldn't be a surprise
JD
They all just seem clueless with no understanding of our education system - I guess this shouldn't be a surprise
JD
Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
Anger and protests from parents in Cheshire against the new funding formula.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39315039" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39315039" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
Some of these problems are being made worse by them choosing to become Academies and then finding they have had to pay for things they got for free in the past e.g. 11+ testing - somewhat ironic.
Re: State funding collapsing for top grammars.
Why can't schools do their own entrance 11+ plus exams and mark them and let the maths department do the standardization- Private Schools do it ?
Should save some money.
I would happy do one for them
But I would be the only that could make sense of it
Should save some money.
I would happy do one for them
But I would be the only that could make sense of it
