Sponsored by
Cash boost for some schools
THE criteria under which Selby district schools receive cash could be about to change dramatically.
Local schools are currently undergoing a consultation – which finishes next week – over a new Government formula for funding.
Private North Yorkshire County Council documents, seen by the Selby Times, suggest that schools could be big winners – with Selby High School potentially getting a cash boost of £480,000 and Barlby High an extra £146,000.
However, some schools in the district could find themselves worse off – Selby Community Primary School could see 7.4 per cent shaved off its budget, a total of £75,574 and other local schools could also face cuts.
The changes come as a result of Coalition plans which the Government has said are a step towards introducing a national funding formula for schools, which it hopes to do in the next spending review period. It says a national formula would make it easier to set budgets for academies and free schools.
As part of the proposals, local school funding formulas - which are based on up to 37 factors, set by councils and agreed by local schools forums - would be abolished and replaced with new formulas based on 10 factors, set by the department.
However local government figures have warned that the proposals could damage localism and have a serious impact on small schools.
The move has also raised fears from predominantly Conservative-led county councils – including North Yorkshire – that small, rural schools could be disadvantaged. Kerry Longley, finance manager at Selby High School, said: “It is important to remember that this is still under consultation and no decision has yet been taken. As a school we would be a winner under the new formula and of course any extra money to spend on education would be welcome.
“However, we don’t exist in isolation – we would only be in favour of a plan that protects the very many truly rural small schools that are such an important part of the education system.”
Another figure from a Selby secondary school who asked not to be named, said: “There are no figures confirmed as yet, and North Yorkshire County Council have not yet confirmed how much money they will be giving to schools. Though any school would welcome more funding, none of us want it to be at the expense of other schools.” Schools that do lose out under the new formula, would receive financial protection for the first two years following its introduction.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Selby
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
