Decision details

This item was referred from Full Council on 4^th April 2016 at the request of Councillor Anne Hutton.

Councillor Hutton introduced her Member’s item which related to cuts to schools and the National Funding Formula.

Following discussion of the item, the Chairman moved a motion to amend the recommendation to read:

Council notes the announcement of a new National Funding Formula for schools, which is aiming to ensure a settlement fair to all pupils, schools and localities. Council notes that Barnet’s schools may, collectively, face a cut to their funding as a result - although the Department for Education have not yet confirmed proposed funding levels.

Council  notes  that  the  re-allocation  of  funds  through  the  National  Funding Formula could hit London the hardest, given current levels of funding when compared to other regions.

Council therefore supports efforts to make the case to government for continued investment in London’s schools, taking into account its complexities including deprivation, mobility and other local factors.

Council  asks  the  Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee  to  write  directly to the Secretary of State for Education  setting  out  LB Barnet’s  position in relation to the National Funding Formula and advocating on behalf of all the borough’s schools.

The committee unanimously AGREED the motion, therefore the motion was CARRIED.

The Chairman moved to the vote of the recommendation as amended. The committee unanimously agreed the recommendation.

The recommendation was therefore carried and it was RESOLVED that:

‘Council notes the announcement of a new National Funding Formula for schools, which is aiming to ensure a settlement fair to all pupils, schools and localities. Council notes that Barnet’s schools may, collectively, face a cut to their funding as a result - although the Department for Education have not yet confirmed proposed funding levels.

Council  notes  that  the  re-allocation  of  funds  through  the  National  Funding Formula could hit London the hardest, given current levels of funding when compared to other regions.

Council therefore supports efforts to make the case to government for continued investment in London’s schools, taking into account its complexities including deprivation, mobility and other local factors.

Council  asks  the  Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee  to  write  directly to the Secretary of State for Education  setting  out  LB Barnet’s  position in relation to the National Funding Formula and advocating on behalf of all the borough’s schools.’