School facing funding cuts

SCHOOL funding cuts have angered governors at Helena Romanes School so much that they have asked for the money back. A �48,680 reduction in the school s sixth form budget by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has been condemned by the school s chair of

SCHOOL funding cuts have angered governors at Helena Romanes School so much that they have asked for the money back.

A �48,680 reduction in the school's sixth form budget by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has been condemned by the school's chair of governors, Janet Dyson.

She warned that such last minute cuts could leave the school in a precarious position, effecting staffing numbers and the amount of classes provided.

She said: "We are very angry about the nature and the timing of the announcement because we were in the process of finalising the school budget for the coming year. Our headteacher, Simon Knight, has written a very robust letter to the LSC outlining our concerns and asking for the money back."

Although Ms Dyson said that there would be no job losses, she did concede that pupil to teacher ratios may have to rise and that some of the 38 courses available to the pupils may have to be reduced over the next two years.

The funding was slashed as part of a �2.4million reduction in proposed funding for sixth forms across Essex, and the LSC say that it has yet to be finalised.

A spokesman said that the money - including over �1million for Helena Romanes - was a "provisional", rather than final, allocation for 2009/10 and therefore could be subject to change.

She said: "We have a statutory requirement to give an allocation by the end of March.

"We will write again to the school when cross-government discussions have concluded. This will happen before the end of April.