Proposals to cut funding ‘unfair’ - school principal

Paul Good says that his school stands to lose £13,000 through the process, which is being proposed by Education Minister John O’Dowd.

The proposal would see 650 primary schools in Northern Ireland lose up to 4% of their budgets. The Department of Education is changing how money was allocated to schools, in an attempt to tackle deprivation by targeting funds at those most in need.

“I am not wanting to in any way hinder the progress of less well off schools but not at the expense of other schools who are already struggling,” said Mr Good.

Other principals are also less than impressed with the scheme. John Knaggs of Downshire PS said that the school would be losing a ‘significant amount’ which would mean ‘significant changes.’

“It is worrying as this would not be a one off,” he said. “When we moved here our numbers were 430 and now we have 572 pupils in P1 to P7. Our budget would not reflect that rise. What would concern me is what impact the funding would have on the school.”

Principal of Pond Park PS Geoffrey Cherry said: “Schools from socially deprived wards deserve appropriate funding to deliver the highest quality of teaching and learning and Special Needs provision.

“No-one can argue with that fact - 75% of schools are ‘losing out’. If the Common Funding Scheme takes effect schools such as my own will have to reduce the support for the children who are most in need.

“Schools, experience huge differentiation. More and more is expected of schools to deliver the SEN Code of Practice and provide support for pupils. The scheme, as it stands, will have a detrimental effect upon pupils and lead to the reduction of specialised staff within our schools.”

Meanwhile Assembly member Jonathan Craig has welcomed the decision by the Education Committee to write to the Minister to ask for an extension to the consultation period for the scheme.

Mr Craig said, “These are proposals which will hit many schools from all backgrounds very hard and it is right that we allow more time for this consultation process. To give two examples of how the changes impact, Downshire Primary School will lose £30,000 per year and St Colman’s Primary School will lose £44,000 per year.

“The Chairman of the Committee called a special meeting on Monday and I would hope that the Minister will listen to the Committee in this area,” he said.