Telford schools will struggle financially

Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet last night approved a new funding formula which the council has been told to develop in line with Government rules published in School Funding Reform: 'Next Steps Towards a Fairer System'

Councillor Paul Watling, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: "The Department for Education published the document and we have to fit it with its quite tight regulations.

"It's been a really difficult experience to deal with because the Government funding arrangements to make it a fairer system don't seem to have made it fairer as far as we are concerned.

"But our officers are extremely well-trusted by the head teachers and they have worked hard to come up with a formula which is as fair as we can make it within the restraints that we've got."

The new formula is intended to make money 'follow' the pupil, so bigger schools are likely to benefit and smaller ones will lose.

There will also be £1.1 million the council now spends on central services like school meals and special needs support that will have to be passed directly to schools.

Councillor Watling said: "I am really concerned about the future funding of schools.

"We are going to have a problem that schools are going to find it hard to balance their books.

"I am hoping central government will see the error of their ways and change that policy."

LibDem leader Bill Tomlinson asked if all the schools were aware of the impending changes in their budgets.

Councillor Watling replied: "All the schools are all now aware of the funding arrangements and they have seen the figures for themselves.

"It's not good for several of our secondary schools," eh said.

"It's been easier for the primary schools this year – but they are going to have to manage those problems," he warned.