| |
Schools’ cash ‘balance’
• I WANT to explain a rather misleading article in last week’s publication (Schools to give back surplus cash, February 12).
The important information which your article omitted was that this new scheme has been introduced by the government and that all schools were consulted and allowed a trial run of what is expected.
The government calls the new system the Balance Control Scheme and its introduction means that cash schools hold in reserve should not be excessive and where significant reserves are held (over 5 per cent for a secondary or 8 per cent for a primary) that they are for proper purposes, as authorised by the school’s governing body. It was introduced by the government as it wanted to ensure that children at schools today benefit from today’s funding, rather than allowing schools to build up large reserves which will not be used until much further in the future.
This Balance Control Scheme came into effect in March 2008.
We consulted with our schools during 2007 and organised a trial run to help them gain experience of what the new system requires.
Any monies will be reinvested into our schools as a whole, thereby benefiting the children currently in Camden schools.
I understand that some schools disagree with the new system, but there are also many others which accept the broad premise behind this government scheme.
In any case, Camden doesn’t have an option but to carry this out.
I have asked officers to look again at the process we have followed, but the council did inform our schools as soon as the legislation was brought in and gave them a trial run.
There is an appeals process which will be heard by fellow Camden governors and headteachers before any money is deducted from individual schools.
Cllr Andrew Mennear
Camden Council’s Executive Member for Schools
|
 |
|
|
| |
| |
