Islington tribune - News: Schools’ budget penalty scrapped

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 9 November 2007

Schools’ budget penalty scrapped

HEADTEACHERS across Islington are breathing a sigh of relief after plans to claw back millions from their budgets were dropped by the government last week.
The plans, put out to consultation in March this year, would have imposed a levy on schools’ unspent cash which, in Islington amounts to nearly £3 million. This would have been redistributed to other schools.
But in the face of stiff opposition from schools across the country, Education Minister Jim Knight announced a climbdown in a statement to the House of Commons.
Barrie O’Shea, headteacher of Duncombe Primary School in Upper Holloway, and chairman of Islington Schools Forum, said: “The schools that had large savings are absolutely delighted, but for some schools with lower budgets and deficits, hopefully that money would have been reclaimed to wipe out their deficits.”
He said his school needed to save up to £1.6m for a new sports and dance facility.
Islington’s schools hold nearly £6m in unspent cash, but only £3m falls within the government’s definition of “excessive funds”.
Primary and special schools which have made the biggest savings this year include Christ the King (£291,191), Montem (£197,618) and Samuel Rhodes (£209, 960). Secondary schools included Holloway (£516,723) and St Aloysius (£337,116).

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your Comments: