Press Release –
Mass Action – Invoicing the Treasury
Following a high profile campaign, the Worth Less? group of schools
and academies (who are fighting for fair and adequate school funding) has grown
to cover 32 counties from Cornwall to Cumbria. We now represent
approximately 5,500 schools and 3.5 million families.
Despite the introduction of a much needed new National Funding Formula
- which is set for April 2018 - our analysis of DfE statistics has shown that
vast funding differentials will persist between the lowest funded authorities
and those which are adequately funded.
After a range of constructive – yet ultimately fruitless - efforts
with the Treasury and Department for Education we have now been left with no
alternative but to invoice the Chancellor for monies owed to the pupils and
families that we serve.
Accordingly and using DfE statistics only, we have compared the
funding that our students would receive if they were funded at the average
levels (Primary and Secondary) of the London Borough of Westminster. The
total difference in funding between Worth Less? schools and Westminster is in
excess of £3.5 billion. In simple terms, if the same number of pupils
who go to Worth Less? schools / academies were funded at the average level of
Westminster pupils we would receive an additional £3.5bn of funding. If we had
chosen to compare ourselves to Hackney, the overall difference is £5.5 billion.
Each county will invoice the Treasury for monies that their (total
number of) students are owed. Instead of talking in half-truths about
school funding, the Chancellor should pay the bills and The Department of
Education should vigorously support our stance and children and families that
we serve.
As costs continue to rise and teacher shortages reach crisis point the
implications for Worth Less? schools and academies are profound:
- A corrosive effect on school standards and performance
- Students will receive far less curricular and extra-curricular
opportunities
- Social mobility is significantly and negatively impacted
- Small and/or rural primary schools will be forced into insolvency /
closure
Supporting papers:
A copy of the L E T T E R to Mr Hammond – each county will send the letter
and individualised invoice on behalf of schools and academies in their area
A summary of the F U N D I N G D I F F E R E N T I A L S
M E T H O D O L O G Y
S O C I A L M O B I L I T Y vs S C H O O L F U N D I N G
E X E M P L A R I N V O I C E
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