SECTION 1
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
Under Section 48 of the School Standards and Framework (SSAF) Act 1998, local education authorities are required to draw up schemes dealing with the financing of schools. These schemes are intended to govern the relationship between maintained schools and LEAs from the beginning of the new funding framework on 1st April 1999, and from that date will replace existing LMS schemes. The Government’s aim, as set out in its consultative paper “Fair Funding: Improving Delegation to Schools” is to secure “fair funding” for all state maintained schools, and to increase the level of financial resources by delegating certain centrally held funding. The Authority has indicated its support for the seven principles set out in that paper:
- raising standards in schools
- self-management for schools
- clear accountability of both LEA and school
- transparency of school finances
- opportunity for schools to take greater responsibility for management decisions if they want this
- equity between the new categories of community, voluntary and foundation schools
- value for money for schools and LEAs
1.2 MAIN FEATURES OF FUNDING FRAMEWORK
1.2.1 Under the Education Act 2002, LEAs determine for themselves the size of their LEA Budget and Schools’ Budget. The categories of expenditure which fall within the LEA and Schools’ Budgets are prescribed under regulations made by the Welsh Government, but include all expenditure, direct and indirect, on an authority’s education service. LEAs may retain funding for purposes defined in regulations made by the Welsh Government. The amounts to be retained centrally are decided by the authority, subject to any limits or conditions prescribed by the Welsh Government. The balance of the Schools’ Budget after deduction of centrally retained funds is termed the Individual Schools Budget (ISB).
1.2.2 LEAs must distribute amounts from their ISB amongst their maintained schools according to a formula which accords with regulations made by the Welsh Government, and enables the calculation of the budget share for each maintained school. This budget share is then delegated to the governing body of the school, unless the school is a new school which has not yet received a delegated budget, or the right to a delegated budget has been suspended. The financial controls within which delegation works are set out in this scheme. Subject to the provisions of the scheme, governing bodies of schools may spend budget shares for the purposes of their school. They may also spend budget shares on any additional purposes prescribed by the Welsh Government.
1.2.3 The LEA may suspend a school’s right to a delegated budget if the provisions of the financial scheme for schools (or rules applied by the scheme) have been substantially or persistently breached, or the budget share has not been managed satisfactorily. There is a right of appeal to the Welsh Government. A school’s right to a delegated budget share may also be suspended for other reasons (s.17 of the SSAF Act).
1.3 THE ROLE, PUBLICATION AND REVISION OF THE FINANCIAL SCHEME
The LEA aims to secure through its financial scheme for schools that effective, efficient and equitable opportunities for learning are provided for ALL pupils, irrespective of their age, gender, background or ability. The scheme sets out the financial relationship between the LEA and its maintained schools. The scheme contains requirements relating to financial management and other related issues which are binding on both the LEA and schools. A copy of the scheme is provided to each school covered by the scheme and will need to be drawn to the attention of all staff and governors. Any proposed revisions to the scheme will be subject to consultation with schools and approval by the Welsh Government, and will be notified to schools upon approval.
1.4 LEA’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES
In its actions the LEA is guided by the following principles:
Partnership
Entitlement and Equity
Empowerment
Accountability
1.4.1 The principle of PARTNERSHIP in education, and of the collective use of resources to best effect, is an important one. Just as individual schools must have room for manoeuvre and the power to make decisions that suit their individual circumstances, so the Local Education Authority, as the democratic body for the area, must have power to determine wider priorities and resource distribution.
Schools need to work with each other, and with their local community and the Local Education Authority, to deliver the best education for all children. The principles of partnership and synergy – the notion that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts – are as true and valuable in education as in other things; children’s education is more than any single stage at any one school.
Active partnership by all schools co-operating at varying stages of education, sharing good practice and combining to provide more comprehensive provision than would otherwise be possible in individual schools, is a highly desirable state of affairs. It is essential that all the partners in the education service work together for collective benefit and success.
1.4.2 There should be ENTITLEMENT for pupils which entails:
· gaining access to relevant educational experience and learning opportunities
· having opportunities to develop knowledge, skills understanding appropriate to his/her current stage of development
· having opportunities to reflect on personal experiences in a manner which enables the development of attitudes and values appropriate to being a member of a modern society.
1.4.3 The LEA believes in EMPOWERMENT in terms of assisting schools and governing bodies to take control of their own development and be encouraged to have high expectations of themselves and others.
1.4.4 There should be EQUITY in the distribution of resources, and ACCOUNTABILITY on the part of education services having clear and explicit policies and procedures for:
· planning suitable provision to meet individual needs (including identification and assessment)
· resourcing provision in a fair and consistent manner
· implementing provision in a fair and consistent manner
· monitoring and recording progress
· evaluating and reporting outcomes
· reporting outcomes to inform future provision.
1.4.5 If the best possible education is going to be provided for children in Bridgend County Borough, the following more specific operational principles should apply:
· The allocation of budget shares should be made on the basis that it is clear, simple, objective and accepted as broadly fair in its effects.
· Some protection should be used where there is a need to react to sudden changes in resource levels.
· Regular discussion should take place with schools about the distribution of resources to schools.
· The LEA should provide detailed advice for governing bodies on its policies, and should promote the sharing of experience between schools.
· Clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of all the parties in implementing, monitoring and evaluating the scheme on a regular basis.
· Schools should be offered access to value-for-money and responsive LEA services.
1.5 ROLE OF THE LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY
The Local Education Authority will take on the strategic role of determining the total resources available to schools, deciding the scope of delegation within the framework of the Act, establishing a basis for the allocation of resources to individual schools by means of a formula, and setting out arrangements for the monitoring of the performance of schools. The Local Education Authority will also offer support to governing bodies in their considerable management and financial responsibilities by means of professional advice and guidance by its officers and advisers.
1.6 MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOLS
The Local Education Authority is responsible for maintaining the schools covered by the scheme, and this includes the duty of defraying all the expenses of maintaining them (except in the case of a voluntary aided school where some of the expenses are, by statute, payable by the governing body). Part of the way an authority maintains schools is through the funding system put in place under sections 45 to 53 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, i.e. through the delegation of school budget shares, and any revisions made under the Education Act 2002.
1.7 SCHOOLS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SCHEME
All existing community nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools will continue to have full delegation. A full list of schools to which the Scheme applies is provided in Section 1 Appendix 1.
SECTION 1 APPENDIX 1
NURSERY SCHOOLS
Pontycymer Nursery School
Sarn Nursery School
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Abercerdin Primary School
Afon-y-Felin Primary School
Betws Primary School
Blaengarw Primary School
Brackla Primary School
Bryncethin Primary School
Brynmenyn Primary School
Bryntirion Junior School
Bryntirion Infants School
Caerau Primary School
Cefn Cribwr Primary School
Cefn Glas Infants School
Coety Primary School
Corneli Primary School
Coychurch (Llangrallo) Primary
Croesty Primary School
Cwmfelin Primary School
Ffaldau Primary School
Garth Primary School
Litchard Primary School
Llangewydd Junior School
Llangynwyd Primary School
Maes yr Haul Primary School
Mynydd Cynffig Infants School
Mynydd Cynffig Junior School
Nantyffyllon Primary School
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Nantymoel Primary School
Newton Primary School
Nottage Primary School
Ogmore Vale Primary School
Oldcastle Primary School
Pencoed Primary School
Penybont Primary
Pil Primary School
Plasnewydd Primary School
Porthcawl Primary School
Tondu Primary School
Trelales Primary School
Tremains Primary School
Tynyrheol Primary School
West Park Primary School
PRIMARY SCHOOLS (WELSH MEDIUM)
Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cwm Garw
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cynwyd Sant
Ysgol Y Ferch O’r Sger Corneli
PRIMARY SCHOOLS ( VOLUNTARY AIDED)
Archdeacon John Lewis Church in Wales Primary School
St Mary’s R C Primary School
St Mary’s & St Patrick’s R C Primary School
St Roberts R C Primary School
PRIMARY SCHOOLS (VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED)
Penyfai C in W Primary School
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Brynteg Comprehensive School
Bryntirion Comprehensive School
Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen
Cynffig Comprehensive School
Maesteg Comprehensive School
Pencoed Comprehensive School
Porthcawl Comprehensive School
YGG Llangynwyd
SECONDARY SCHOOLS (VOLUNTARY AIDED)
Archbishop McGrath R C Comprehensive School
SPECIAL SCHOOLS
Heronsbridge
Ysgol Bryn Castell