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Wales' schools 'decades behind' Cash for schools disparity claims
(10 minutes later)
Schools in Wales are lagging 40 to 50 years behind those in England in terms of physical upkeep, a council leader has claimed. Pupils in England continue to have more money spent on their education than those in Wales, according to leading academic Professor David Reynolds.
Denbighshire Chief Executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet, who moved from England 18 months ago, said there was "obvious disparity" in money available. Speaking on the BBC Wales current affairs programme, he says spending on each child in Wales is around £500 a year less than across the border.
He also maintains standards are being affected.
The programme also says many schools are struggling to maintain crumbling buildings.
Both Wales and England have been spending more on education over the last decade, but Professor Reynolds says Wales is currently spending 10% less than the government in England.
At the same time, he warns, standards are dropping from being on par with England to some seven per cent behind in key areas such as GCSE passes.
Meanwhile, Denbighshire Council Chief Executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet has claimed that schools in Wales are lagging 40 to 50 years behind those in England in terms of physical upkeep, a council leader has claimed.
Dr Mehmet, who moved from England 18 months ago, said there was "obvious disparity" in money available.
His view was echoed by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).His view was echoed by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).
The Welsh Local Government Association said it was "working to put necessary investment into school buildings".The Welsh Local Government Association said it was "working to put necessary investment into school buildings".
Dr Mehmet made his comments in an edition of BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme, comparing education funding in Wales and England. There is obvious disparity between the capital that is available in England and what appears to be available in Wales Dr Mohammed Mehmet, Denbighshire chief executive
Talking about school maintenance, he said: "There is obvious disparity between the capital that is available in England and what appears to be available in Wales."Talking about school maintenance, he said: "There is obvious disparity between the capital that is available in England and what appears to be available in Wales."
Asked whether this amounted to a ratio between the countries of 2:1 or 3:1 per student, he replied: "I would have said more based on just what I've seen.Asked whether this amounted to a ratio between the countries of 2:1 or 3:1 per student, he replied: "I would have said more based on just what I've seen.
There is obvious disparity between the capital that is available in England and what appears to be available in Wales Dr Mohammed Mehmet, Denbighshire chief executive
"I came to Wales a year and a half ago and when I visited schools I was struck by that difference. I would say 40, 50 years in terms of what is visible - the quality, the fabric of the buildings. It's almost beyond doubt."I came to Wales a year and a half ago and when I visited schools I was struck by that difference. I would say 40, 50 years in terms of what is visible - the quality, the fabric of the buildings. It's almost beyond doubt.
"There is a certain disparity between what is happening in England, even now under these economic circumstances, and what we are able to do in Wales. And I think that's a big issue for us.""There is a certain disparity between what is happening in England, even now under these economic circumstances, and what we are able to do in Wales. And I think that's a big issue for us."
Dr Mehmet's views were echoed by Brian Lightman, president of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).Dr Mehmet's views were echoed by Brian Lightman, president of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).
"England is most definitely out-spending us," said Mr Lightman, who is also head teacher of St Cyres School, Penarth. "England is most definitely out-spending us," said Mr Lightman, also head teacher of St Cyres School, Penarth.
"I went to quite a number of schools around England, and indeed Scotland as well, and I didn't go near any schools that had the sort of funding issues that we have here in this school and in other schools in Wales.""I went to quite a number of schools around England, and indeed Scotland as well, and I didn't go near any schools that had the sort of funding issues that we have here in this school and in other schools in Wales."
I meet a lot of other head teachers from schools all round the UK...and they don't actually understand how we can run a school with the budget we receive Brian Lightman, head teacher St Cyres School, Penarth
Mr Lightman described claims that English schools are receiving £500 per pupil per year more than Welsh schools as "an absolute minimum".Mr Lightman described claims that English schools are receiving £500 per pupil per year more than Welsh schools as "an absolute minimum".
He said: "I meet a lot of other head teachers from schools all round the UK and I have yet to meet anybody who has anything remotely approaching our levels of funding, and they don't actually understand how we can run a school with the budget we receive."He said: "I meet a lot of other head teachers from schools all round the UK and I have yet to meet anybody who has anything remotely approaching our levels of funding, and they don't actually understand how we can run a school with the budget we receive."
With regard to the condition of his own school, Mr Lightman commented: "Every day there's a new surprise for us to come into. Recently we've had a gas leak which lead to the heating going down and that meant that the pumps that were very old, failed.
I meet a lot of other head teachers from schools all round the UK...and they don't actually understand how we can run a school with the budget we receive Brian Lightman, head teacher St Cyres School, Penarth
"Another area where we've had major problems has been in the electrical circuit.
"When we started putting more computers into classrooms, which are basic tools for any lesson now, then we found that we started to get power cuts and that has been a major expenditure on rewiring."
A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association said the school maintenance backlog across Wales was estimated at £1.6bn in a 2006 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and acknowledged: "I would imagine that this would be more now."A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association said the school maintenance backlog across Wales was estimated at £1.6bn in a 2006 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and acknowledged: "I would imagine that this would be more now."
The spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the local authorities and the Welsh assembly government to ensure that all schools in Wales are fit for the 21st Century. The spokesperson added: "We are working closely with the local authorities and the Welsh assembly government to ensure that all schools in Wales are fit for the 21st Century.
"We know that there is a significant amount of investment that will be needed from local authorities and the assembly government for this to happen."We know that there is a significant amount of investment that will be needed from local authorities and the assembly government for this to happen.
"We are working with the assembly government to develop the 21st Century Schools programme, which is due to come online next year.
"We will work with local authorities to put necessary investment into school buildings but this will take time."
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: "Governing bodies manage their school budgets and that budget supports the maintenance of the school.
"Each individual school budget is determined by the local education authority funding formula.
"The regulatory framework gives authorities the scope to shape their formulae so that they take account of local education needs and circumstances that are individual to that area."
Week In Week Out, BBC One Wales, 22:45 BST, Tuesday 2 JuneWeek In Week Out, BBC One Wales, 22:45 BST, Tuesday 2 June