low graphics version | feedback | help
| Front Page World UK UK Politics Business Sci/Tech Health |
| Education |
| Features How the Education Systems Work |
| Sport Entertainment Talking Point In Depth AudioVideo |
Heads accuse under-funding councils
 School funding has too many regional variations, say headteachers |
Local authorities which are failing to pass on government funding to schools have been 'named and shamed' by a headteachers' union.
The National Association of Head Teachers has published a list of local authorities which it says are giving below the amount required by the government.
Westminster has been named as the authority furthest below its target for education funding - at 8.3% below the required minimum - followed by the London Borough of Southwark - which is 6.9% below the required figure.
The union's list of the 12 authorities which pass on the least of their education budget (with percentages representing the margin below the minimum requirement):
- Westminster 8.3%
Southwark 6.2%
Newham 5.4%
Manchester 6.6%
Kensington and Chelsea 6.9%
Haringey 6.9%
Hackney 6.4%
Cambridgeshire 5.6%
Newham 5.4%
Newcastle 4.9%
Tower Hamlets 4.7%
Blackburn and Darwen 4.7%
Salford 4.3%
In contrast, Southend on Sea passes on the largest amount to its schools, with 7.5% above the required minimum.
 David Hart says the current funding system is "ramshackle" and "past its sell-by date" |
"All the money which should be spent on education is not being spent," said the union's general secretary, David Hart, who said that the current funding system is "past its sell-by date".
The NAHT is calling for a national system of school funding, which it says will reduce the anomalies and complexities of the local funding calculations which are currently being applied.
"There is no earthly reason why an infant pupil in Cambridgeshire should be funded so differently from one in Lincolnshire," said Mr Hart.
| Search BBC News Online | |
|  Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
| |
See also: | |
 | |
 | 22 Nov 99 | Education |
| Funding doubts over performance pay |
| |
| 21 Sep 99 | Education |
| Schools take control of standards fund |
| |
| 30 Mar 99 | Education |
| Blunkett rejects councils' plans |
| |
| |
Internet links: | |
| |
| NAHT |
| |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | |
Links to other Education stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
