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Herefordshire Council is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister of State for Schools to press for fairer funding for education.
Herefordshire consistently achieves high standards in its schools but receives one of the very worst levels of education funding in the country. Added to that is the extra cost of delivering services across a sparsely populated rural area, and the fact that Herefordshire is under pressure to reduce the number of schools if it wants to receive future funds under the government's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Leader of Herefordshire Council Roger Phillips has written to the county's two MPs - Bill Wiggin and Paul Keetch - to request their help in setting up a joint meeting with the government minister, including the council's cabinet member for children's services Councillor Jennifer Hyde and the director of children's services Sharon Menghini. The aim is that together they will put the case to government for fairer funding for Herefordshire.
The council is required to submit its schools review to the Department for Children, Schools and Families by 16 June 2008 and has embarked on a countywide consultation programme on proposals that could see 39 schools closed and 19 new schools created.
"Like everyone else, councillors were very concerned when they learned of the proposals in the schools review", commented Councillor Roger Phillips.
"Council officers calculate that if the county does nothing then we will see 20 per cent of school places empty by 2012, which will severely reduce the grant we get from government for education. If Herefordshire undertakes its schools review successfully, then potentially many tens of millions of pounds will be made available from the government for new schools, refurbishment of existing schools and for improving the quality of education we can provide for our children.
"However, if our schools received the same level of funding per pupil as the average unitary council, we would receive an additional £7.5 million a year based on current pupil numbers.
"It would be easy but ultimately fruitless for Herefordshire's politicians to blame each other, but the truth is that due to falling school rolls everywhere, many local education authorities are currently going through the same process. The only way to arrive at the best solution for our children is by working together and acting together now to get a better deal from government".
"In the meantime, the council's cabinet is tasking officers to provide detailed information on finance and school journey times. There is a period of consultation underway and no political decision has been made, or indeed can be made until the full facts are put before cabinet".
Herefordshire must pull together to face education challenge
14 January 2008
Herefordshire Council is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister of State for Schools to press for fairer funding for education.
Herefordshire consistently achieves high standards in its schools but receives one of the very worst levels of education funding in the country. Added to that is the extra cost of delivering services across a sparsely populated rural area, and the fact that Herefordshire is under pressure to reduce the number of schools if it wants to receive future funds under the government's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Leader of Herefordshire Council Roger Phillips has written to the county's two MPs - Bill Wiggin and Paul Keetch - to request their help in setting up a joint meeting with the government minister, including the council's cabinet member for children's services Councillor Jennifer Hyde and the director of children's services Sharon Menghini. The aim is that together they will put the case to government for fairer funding for Herefordshire.
The council is required to submit its schools review to the Department for Children, Schools and Families by 16 June 2008 and has embarked on a countywide consultation programme on proposals that could see 39 schools closed and 19 new schools created.
"Like everyone else, councillors were very concerned when they learned of the proposals in the schools review", commented Councillor Roger Phillips.
"Council officers calculate that if the county does nothing then we will see 20 per cent of school places empty by 2012, which will severely reduce the grant we get from government for education. If Herefordshire undertakes its schools review successfully, then potentially many tens of millions of pounds will be made available from the government for new schools, refurbishment of existing schools and for improving the quality of education we can provide for our children.
"However, if our schools received the same level of funding per pupil as the average unitary council, we would receive an additional £7.5 million a year based on current pupil numbers.
"It would be easy but ultimately fruitless for Herefordshire's politicians to blame each other, but the truth is that due to falling school rolls everywhere, many local education authorities are currently going through the same process. The only way to arrive at the best solution for our children is by working together and acting together now to get a better deal from government".
"In the meantime, the council's cabinet is tasking officers to provide detailed information on finance and school journey times. There is a period of consultation underway and no political decision has been made, or indeed can be made until the full facts are put before cabinet".