Islington puts more money into schools (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Islington puts more money into schools

July 17, 2003 12:00 AM

As Education Secretary Charles Clarke attacks councils around the country for not passing on new funding to schools, Islington is one of the few councils to pass on more money to schools. It is one of only two councils in inner London to give more money to schools to spend than the overall increase in the budget. Islington's Liberal Democrat administration is also spending more on education funding than it is being funded by the government for, finding the additional cash from its own resources. The Government asks all Councils to 'passport' the whole increase in education funding, straight through to education. Islington is not only doing this but contributing additional money of its own. Cllr James Kempton, Executive Member for Regeneration & Education, said "Islington 's Liberal Democrat Council is completely committed to improving education in the borough, and yet again we are putting our money where our mouth is. "At a time when the Government is criticising many local authorities for not passing on the whole increase in education funding to schools, we are not only passing it all on, but adding money of our own from other sources. "Annual education revenue spending in Islington will increase by nearly £10 million next year. This comes on top of our huge capital investment programme, which has seen around £30 million invested in new buildings and facilities over the last three years." The facts behind the story 1. In 2003-4 Islington's Schools Budget is increasing by 11.2%. The amount of money 'delegated' to schools - ie that schools decide how to spend - is increasing by 11.9%, a gap of 0.7% of additional funding. The only other inner London borough passing on more money to schools in this way is Wandsworth, where the equivalent figure is 0.4%. All other inner London boroughs are devolving less money to schools than the increase in schools budget. (DfES figures). 2. Islington is 'passporting' 101.1% of the Education Formula Spending Share (FSS, formerly known as the SSA) to education. ends