Agenda item

Claire White presented a report for information on the budgets for 2015/16 submitted by maintained schools. Four schools have submitted a deficit budget, compared to three last year, and the position at each of these schools was briefly explained – mainly due to decreases in pupil numbers and the lead in time needed to restructure to reflect the lower pupil numbers. Long Lane, Kintbury and Purley all have a deficit recovery plan in place, though John O’ Gaunt’s deficit continues to grow. An increasing number of schools are forecasting deficits in 2016/17 if they take no action, reflecting the fact that costs (particularly employment costs) are rising whilst funding remains static. This highlights the level of savings that schools are required to find in order to stand still. David Ramsden asked Ian Pearson if he had received a reply from the letter sent to the DfE last term regarding the school funding crisis, but he responded that he had not, stating how difficult it is to get responses. The impact of free schools opening up at late notice in Reading is affecting some of our schools (impacting on pupil numbers and thus funding), and the need for cross LA discussions was stressed. Graham Spellman stated that the position at John O’Gaunt appears to be getting worse despite the number of reports received over the years on positive action being taken. Ian stated that the school had taken a number of actions to reduce its costs, including closure of the sixth form, but pupil numbers were not improving. He stressed that the risk was being borne by the Council and not other schools, but agreed that something more radical needs to happen. Mark Bennet commented on the current school transport consultation and queried whether the Council is being joined up in its thinking i.e. is paying the transport costs for pupils to travel to a school outside John O’ Gaunt’s catchment area having an impact on the schools viability. Ian replied that for many pupils, schools located outside their catchment area are actually closer, so parents have a right to make a claim.