SOME schools could lose up to £500,000 when new Government funding plans come into force.
Changes in the way schools are financed will have a massive impact in Kirklees, with both winners and losers. Some secondary schools could lose up to £530,000 long term, while others may be £510,000 better off.
With primary schools the projected figures are less dramatic, but some could still lose £166,000, while others will enjoy a long-term increase of £236,000.
The figures were released in the Kirklees Schools Forum report to Kirklees Council’s cabinet last night. They will be discussed by the full council tonight.
Peter Rock, chairman of governors at Netherhall Learning Campus, said his school and Ashbrow, where his wife worked, would lose £900,000 collectively.
Mr Rock said: “I understand that this is something you’re having to do, but I hope you’re doing it with a heavy heart.”
John Edwards, Kirklees assistant director for learning, said the methodology for funding was set by the Government with fewer factors to allow them to help specific schools.
The forum has described the effect the Government changes in schools funding will have as “turbulent.”
From April, local authorities have to simplify their schools’ funding and distribution. The current Kirklees schools funding formula is based on 40 factors, this will be reduced to just 11 factors.
The change in finance allocation is so complicated that the Kirklees Schools Forum is now on the third draft of its proposals.
The new scheme will lead to responsibility for some services and finances being delegated directly to schools.
According to the report, the council will have to “develop its trading relationship with all schools to encourage the schools to buy back services.”
Kirklees Council currently provides some £25m of services to schools.
One example of change is in premises funding – under the current system, money is allocated according to the size of the school building. The new rules mean finance is awarded on the number of pupils, regardless of the building.
The forum report to cabinet says: “The long term changes, when fully implemented, would create potentially significant increases or reductions for some schools.
“The new funding factors have been modelled and refined to moderate some of the larger swings in funding and to enure better targeting. The flexibility to reproduce current funding allocations is limited.” The Government has given a Minimum Funding Guarantee which limits losses to 1.5% per pupil per year.
For those primary schools likely to get less money, this will be limited to a maximum of £31,000 per year. For secondary schools, the maximum loss will be £53,000 per year.
If the report is accepted tonight, the following schools will be the biggest overall losers:
Netherhall Learning Campus -£529,926
Almondbury High School -£513,174
Batley Business and Enterprise College -£504,276
North Huddersfield Trust -£452,211
Ashbrow Primary School -£329,153 (also due to school re-organisation)
Newsome High School -£296,795.
The biggest overall winners are:
Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College +£506,419
Salendine Nook High +£261,683
Honley High +£253,608
Crosland Moor Junior School +£236,554
Colne Valley Specialist Arts College +£223,569.
Primary school winners include: Lydgate J and I, New Mill +£147,577, and St Patrick’s , Birkby, +£140,152.
Primary school losers include: Christ Church Academy -£106,398, Grange Moor -£104,530, St Thomas CE, Bradley -£113,971, Mount Pleasant -£87,638, Hade Edge -£62,397, Thurstonland -£57,139, Kirkburton First -£57,948, Gilthwaites First -£47,355, Flockton First -£45,213, Wellhouse -£46,516, Wilberlee -£46,283 and Skelmanthorpe First -£43,750.
