High performing school needing to find additional income through staff secondment

What was the issue addressed?

The financial disadvantages to school budgets and support by being a high performing school with minimal PDG, take up of free school meals etc.

What happened?

We are constantly looking for other avenues of funding, which mainly involves the Head or another teacher being seconded out to the LEA or other schools for periods of time to share best practice.  Great on one level however the roles need to be backfilled.

What lessons were learnt?

We are aware of schools who are not performing so well, or are in areas of deprivation, who have so much additional financial support they have not been able to decide what to spend it on.

The budget setting process within the LEA appears to have a mystery of its own.

Reflections…

What are the pressures on your school budget?

Has your school had to release staff for secondment? What were the implications of this?

In what ways do you think school budget allocation could be improved?

Have your say…

Have you had experiences similar to these? What do you think about the situation described?