Budget changes to hit local primaries

Budget changes to hit local primaries

2 October 2013

A WARNING has been issued that primary schools across the district could be forced to lay off staff, if controversial new funding arrangements are introduced.

The Department of Education is proposing to divert over £1.2m away from schools in the South Eastern Education and Library Board area in an attempt to tackle deprivation by targeting funds at those most in need.

Schools which will benefit from the proposal — which is out to public consultation until the end of the month — are those who have a lot of pupils who are entitled to free school meals.

Saintfield Academy Primary School principal Steven Moore and Chris Curran, principal of Teconnaught’s Holy Family Primary, are concerned at the impact the proposal will have on schools across the district, warning that it represents a “threat to children’s education.”

They say schools in the controlled and maintained sectors are affected and that while

some will receive additional funding, the vast majority will lose out.

The principals say 123 of the 144 primary schools in the South Eastern Board are facing a reduced budget over the next three years and want parents to lobby politicians, the South Eastern Board and Department of Education to have the “ill-considered proposal” overturned and additional funding made available for schools.

Mr. Moore, who is a member of the Northern Ireland Primary Principals’ Action Group, said in terms of resourcing, reduced budgets will mean cuts with the big fear that teaching and non-teaching jobs could be lost. He said schools will now have to take a critical look at their budgets to identify where savings can be made.

But he warned this will prove difficult as many schools are already stretched to breaking point as a result of the budgets they are currently operating under.

“While everyone agrees schools in areas of social disadvantage should receive a fairer and greater slice of the cake, these particular schools have been receiving a greater share of targeting social need funding over the years,” explained Mr. Moore, who said his school is facing a £43,500 cut in its budget over the next three years.

“Primary school principals have made it abundantly clear that many schools are stretched to breaking point due to under funding, yet the Education Minister plans to reduce our budgets. We believe this policy is divisive and unfair and will create a new form of inequality.”

Mr. Moore added: “A situation will arise where a minority of pupils are educated in small classes with wonderful resources and plentiful support staff, whilst the majority sit in large classes with scant resources and no support staff.”

Mr. Curran, whose school budget is predicted to be reduced by almost £32,000 over the next three years, said many local schools are poorly funded to begin with and do not have room to make cuts.

“There is widespread opposition to the proposal to reduce budgets. Many schools are suffering, especially those in our area. What is being proposed is unacceptable and many schools simply can’t afford to make cuts,” he continued.

“No one is against targeting extra money at social deprivation, but it should not be taken from other children. Many principals are very concerned about the unfairness of this particular proposal.”

Mr. Curran said some of the local schools who are facing budget cuts also have socially deprived children who get free school meals, warning they are going to suffer as a result of the proposed budget regime.