Proposed cuts to state school funding under new National Funding Formula Post Reply

[3littlemonkeys]

Still time to reply to the consultation. It closes at midnight. To make your voices heard you only need to reply to the first 2 questions if you don't have time to do any more!

The proposed cuts really are looking to have a very significant impact.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39339879

[EBn]

Another reminder that the Department for Education consultation on education funding and the new funding formula closes tonight.

This is really important not just for the education of your own children, if they are in the state system, but also for wider society. We have great schools in London, particularly around where we live - let's help all schools in our country reach these great standards rather than hamper them with cost cuts.

You can respond to the consultation at:
https://consult.education.gov.uk/fundin ... ion/intro/

A guide on the consultation can be found at:
http://www.fairfundingforallschools.org ... nded).docx

[Wandsworth Council]

Council calls for re-think on schools’ funding formula

Councillors in Wandsworth have called on ministers to rethink draft Government proposals on funding for schools.

The Government recently announced a consultation over its plans to reform the way schools are funded.

As they stand the draft proposals would mean some funding being transferred away from London to other towns, cities and rural areas across England which currently receive less cash per pupil than schools in the capital.

The official Government figures show that if the plans were to proceed 61 out of 66 schools in Wandsworth would see a 1.84 per cent reduction in funding by 2019. This equates to around £2m in total.

In contrast half of the borough’s secondary schools could each receive an extra £110,000 on average over the same period.

The council’s education spokesman Cllr Kathy Tracey said: “Our response to the consultation calls on ministers to have a serious re-think and come back with a revised set of proposals that do not penalise schools in London.

“Schools in the capital have received more funding per pupil than other parts of the country for many years but this simply reflects the higher costs of operating in London, where for example teacher’s wages need to reflect the extra costs associated with living and working in an expensive city.

“London’s schools have risen to the challenge and raised standards of teaching and learning. It is important the any changes to the funding formula do not jeopardise these achievements.”

According to the national education watchdog Ofsted, 95 per cent of Wandsworth schools are currently ranked good or outstanding, one of the best borough-wide quality ratings in the country.

[admin (daniella)]

The proposed funding cuts in the government’s new spending formula for schools in England will disproportionately affect more deprived areas, according to a Labour analysis.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... ays-labour

[EBn]

Interesting article in the Evening Standard yesterday on some London conservative MPs response to the proposed education funding cuts:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics ... 29261.html

[Balhammumoftwo]

I'd really like to hear what Jane Ellison has to say on this subject and any other candidates who are standing in the Lambeth and Wandsworth Boroughs.

This is a major issue and deserves to be discussed as part of this election. Especially as it was a Tory manifesto pledge last time round to protect the Education Budget. Of course we now know they didn't mean this in real terms, only cash terms. But with running costs increasing, the apprenticeship levy, number of children needing places increasing it is an absolute lie for them to say they have done that!

It's time to hear what they have to say! Before we know it, they'l be back in power and the National Funding Formula will be pushed through. I want to know what each candidate proposes on this issue.

[juliantenniscoach]

The proposed funding cuts in the government’s new spending formula for schools in England will disproportionately affect more deprived areas, according to a Labour analysis.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... ays-labour

Although I am alarmed by the potential effects the cuts will have, I don't have much faith in a Labour survey in the Guardian! Not exactly an independent view is it?

[Balhammumoftwo]

Yes,much better to read what the Institute for Fiscal Studies has to say, they are an independent body:

https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/9075

"School funding per pupil has been frozen in cash terms between 2015–16 and 2019–20, resulting in a real-terms cut of 6.5%. This would be the largest cut in school spending per pupil over a four-year period since at least the early 1980s and would return school spending per pupil to about the same real-terms level as it was in 2010–11. Any losses schools face as a result of the NFF come on top of this cut"

"Funding is diverted from schools with very high levels of deprivation to those with average levels. There is also a shift in funding towards small primary schools and large secondary schools. Schools in inner London are among the biggest losers, with average cuts of around 2.5% in cash-terms per-pupil funding between 2017–18 and 2019–20."

uncomfortable reading

[Balhammumoftwo]

and this is written in the context of the current election:

https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/9158

"How things would change under a Labour government is not yet clear. What we do know is that Labour seems to support the principle of a national funding formula, with the Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner recently saying “Now the principle behind a fair funding formula, I absolutely, whole-heartedly agree with it.” (https://theschoolbusblog.net/2017/02/21 ... g-formula/). Labour also opposes real-terms cuts to school spending per pupil. For instance, the Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, recently told the NUT conference that “Our priorities are to oppose the cut in funding per pupil...” (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 84556.html)"

[EBn]

For those that are concerned about the proposed education funding cuts you can sign a petition at:

https://www.change.org/p/stop-school-fu ... m=copylink

[Balhammumoftwo]

There's an General Election Education Debate next Tuesday for those of you interested in hearing what the local candidates have to say on the matter:

https://twitter.com/fairfundlambeth/sta ... 4109246464

Conservative candidate "unable to attend" apparently. Their silence speaks volumes

[EBn]

It would be interesting to hear the candidates' perspective on the article in the Standard that London is expected to have 18,000 fewer teaching jobs by 2020. That is going to have a real impact on our children's education.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/educatio ... 39226.html

[3littlemonkeys]

Having emailed all the local candidates about this - the only response i have got so far is from the Green Party - sadly not really much help but at least they took the time to reply!

Thank you for your email below. I have promised to oppose cutting per
pupil funding in real terms for schools in Battersea compared to
2015/16.

The Green Party announced on 15 May plans to invest £7bn in education,
to abolish SATs and end the academies programme. For more details
please see:
https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017 ... academies/

Thank you for contacting me.

Yours sincerely,

Lois Davis
Green Party candidate for Battersea

[EBn]

For anyone concerned about this you can find out more at:
https://m.facebook.com/FairFundWands/
Schools across the country are marching on 26th May to raise awareness of the impact of these cuts.
Wandsworth schools are marching to the cafe on Tooting Common after school.

Please do join us if this matter to you

[Balhammumoftwo]

There's a group of parents from Henry Cavendish Balham marching together this Friday from the school to Tooting Common where we plan to meet up with other local schools. Details are on Fair Funds for all Schools Wandsworth's Facebook page:

We've made our posters and banners already!

https://www.facebook.com/events/301249070301397/