Haringey Council pledges extra help for schools facing cash problems as pupil numbers fall

Schools are funded mainly on a per-pupil basis using a national formula. A council report states that the falling birth rate in Haringey coupled with more people moving out of the borough has led to reduced demand for school places, meaning the schools estate is “too big” at primary level and will soon be too large at secondary level.

The report adds that the Government recently announced it will scrap a grant designed to allow councils to monitor the performance of schools under their control.

The council’s overview and scrutiny committee carried out a review to consider how the authority could help schools improve and co-ordinate places, and the council’s response to its findings was presented to cabinet on February 8. Of the seven recommendations made following the review, the council agreed four and partially agreed the rest.

The authority’s response states that it has offered help to schools through several initiatives, including support for school business managers and work on “integrated curriculum-led financial planning”.

It continues: “There are plans in place to continue to strengthen this support and ensure that our offer meets schools’ needs. Several initiatives have already been implemented including additional training led by the Department for Education.”

However, the response adds that it is the responsibility of schools to ensure that they are able to manage their finances effectively and remain within their allocated budget.

According to the council response, pupil exclusions have already “reduced significantly” in the borough, and there is “ongoing work with our schools and families to further support this reduction”.

The scrutiny review also recommended helping to raise the profile of less popular schools in the borough. The council said it supported schools to be ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, with admissions booklets providing “clear and factual information about all our schools” without seeking to promote one school over another.

A further recommendation was for a report to be drawn up on the development of associations of schools able to buy in services at lower cost. The council said it was considering how it could support schools with such an initiative, and further work was needed.

Cabinet members agreed the council’s response to the recommendations.

In her introduction to the report, Cllr Zena Brabazon, cabinet member for early years, children and families, said: “I am pleased to see the body of evidence discussed as part of the review and also to hear from officers and from schools about the work that is already going on to address the issue of falling rolls and to support our schools at a time when challenges are significant.

“I endorse the recommendations that have come out of this report, and I support the work outlined therein as well as the wide range of other support that is being offered to our schools to ensure that we continue to support and build a school estate that will take us strongly through the coming years.”