Proposal to cut funding for Prep. Departments.
February 18th 2010
The Department of Education is recommending the withdrawal of public funding from preparatory departments from 1 September 2010. This follows the recommendations of the ‘Review of Funding to Preparatory Departments of Grammar Schools’. The Review did recognise the high standards achieved by the pupils in preparatory departments and also the ‘value for money’ they represent but states that “the value for money case does not take account of the equity issues”. The full Review report may be viewed at
http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/85-about-the-dept/85-about_dept consultations.htm
The Education Minister has accepted the main findings of the report and has indicated that no final decision will be taken on the implementation of this proposal until:
· an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) has been carried out;
· a consultation exercise has been carried out in respect of the changes to the Common Funding Formula necessary to remove the provision for channelling funds to preparatory departments.
The Consultation document and a draft Equality Impact Assessment have been placed on the Department of Education Website and these may be found by following the link given below which is also on the Strathearn School website under News.
www.denigov.uk/schools/schools funding/common funding/consultations/january 2010 .
The Board of Governors would encourage parents to respond to the EQIA at the link above – closing date is 4 March 2010. The School will be responding to both the EQIA and the Common Funding Formula proposals.
