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| School funding is 'fair' but too little cash, say governors | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| School governors say the government should press ahead with its new funding formula for schools in England - but have expressed concern that there is too little cash available overall. | |
| Emma Knights of the National Governors Association says the plan is fair but schools face underlying money problems. | |
| It comes a day after head teachers from 3,000 schools called for a rethink. | |
| Ministers say the biggest school funding shake-up in decades will end "unfair" and "inconsistent" funding. | Ministers say the biggest school funding shake-up in decades will end "unfair" and "inconsistent" funding. |
| "Everybody pretty much agrees that the principle of the formula is right," said Ms Knights, speaking as the consultation period on the plan closed. | "Everybody pretty much agrees that the principle of the formula is right," said Ms Knights, speaking as the consultation period on the plan closed. |
| Is school funding the next crisis? | Is school funding the next crisis? |
| Big city schools hit in funding crisis | Big city schools hit in funding crisis |
| But, she said lack of money in the education system overall meant some schools that had expected to gain under the new funding formula would in fact lose. | But, she said lack of money in the education system overall meant some schools that had expected to gain under the new funding formula would in fact lose. |
| "People do understand that the current system can't be defended and we do need a way of making sure we are distributing money across the country fairly." | "People do understand that the current system can't be defended and we do need a way of making sure we are distributing money across the country fairly." |
| But underlying cash problems in schools had meant "even more controversy than was expected", she said. | But underlying cash problems in schools had meant "even more controversy than was expected", she said. |
| Her comments coincide with a separate report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that calls the proposals "broadly sensible" but warned of "significant winners and losers" with some schools facing "protracted cuts". | Her comments coincide with a separate report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that calls the proposals "broadly sensible" but warned of "significant winners and losers" with some schools facing "protracted cuts". |
| "Implementing this reform at a time when there is already considerable pressure on school budgets will inevitably be difficult," the IFS warns. | "Implementing this reform at a time when there is already considerable pressure on school budgets will inevitably be difficult," the IFS warns. |
| What do schools say? | What do schools say? |
| The difficulties being faced by schools across England were spelled out by 4,000 governors who responded to a BBC questionnaire. | |
| "Diabolical", "devastating" and "catastrophic" were among the words used. Some governors described their "desperate" attempts at fundraising to fill gaps while others explained that many subjects were being lost, particularly at sixth form level. | "Diabolical", "devastating" and "catastrophic" were among the words used. Some governors described their "desperate" attempts at fundraising to fill gaps while others explained that many subjects were being lost, particularly at sixth form level. |
| How much cash is left for classes? | How much cash is left for classes? |
| The underlying financial problems faced by state schools in England were highlighted in a National Audit Office report in December last year. | The underlying financial problems faced by state schools in England were highlighted in a National Audit Office report in December last year. |
| The spending watchdog said schools would have to find £3bn in savings by 2019-20, amounting to budget cuts of 8%. | The spending watchdog said schools would have to find £3bn in savings by 2019-20, amounting to budget cuts of 8%. |
| The funding formula was announced in the same month by Education Secretary Justine Greening. | The funding formula was announced in the same month by Education Secretary Justine Greening. |
| Since then it has drawn criticism from councillors, head teachers, education unions and parents - and Conservative MPs in areas due to lose out have warned that the plans may not make it through Parliament. | Since then it has drawn criticism from councillors, head teachers, education unions and parents - and Conservative MPs in areas due to lose out have warned that the plans may not make it through Parliament. |
| The government says its plan includes protections until 2019-20 to ensure that no schools will lose more than 6% of their budgets in real terms but the IFS says these safeguards will need to remain for longer. | The government says its plan includes protections until 2019-20 to ensure that no schools will lose more than 6% of their budgets in real terms but the IFS says these safeguards will need to remain for longer. |
| Ms Knights said the new formula had shown up a shortfall "in the basic building block to educate a child". | Ms Knights said the new formula had shown up a shortfall "in the basic building block to educate a child". |
| "So actually we are saying we need more per pupil in every school across England and that of course is a different issue. | "So actually we are saying we need more per pupil in every school across England and that of course is a different issue. |
| "That's about the amount of money we need rather than how we distribute it across the country." | "That's about the amount of money we need rather than how we distribute it across the country." |