‘Alarm’ as two-thirds of schools’ Turing Scheme bids snubbed

A significant two-thirds of schools applying for funding to send students on transformative trips abroad were denied, raising concerns that disadvantaged students are being overlooked in the Turing Scheme.

Union leaders are urging the government to rectify the lower funding allocations that schools receive compared to its previous scheme and help bridge the gap of disadvantage.

Despite a record number of applications from schools this year, many leaders have opted out of the program due to the complicated application process and challenges in accommodating all students on these trips.

Interest from schools

Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, stated, “Schools and sixth forms are eager to participate in the program, yet the government isn’t showing the commitment to aid them.”

“At a time when language study is at risk, the chance for students to study abroad from an early age should be encouraged and celebrated. This data, however, suggests otherwise.”

The flagship scheme, named after Alan Turing, was launched five years ago as a replacement for the EU’s Erasmus+ program, with a renewed focus on social mobility.

Former Education Secretary Gavin Williamson permitted trips under this scheme to take place outside the EU.

This year, the program faced nearly £30 million in cuts, bringing total funding down to £64 million, a four-year low.

According to Department for Education data, only 32 percent (140) of school applications to the Turing Scheme were approved this year, a steep decline from 90 percent one year prior.

In comparison, universities had a 99 percent (115) success rate, with further education institutions seeing a 51 percent (140) approval rate.

Worrying decline

Schools reported the fewest students placed in Turing placements (5,071) and received minimal funding from the program (£7 million). Although they allocated the highest percentage of placements (82 percent) to disadvantaged students.

Di’Iasio remarked that “compared to Erasmus+, funding for the school sector appears to have diminished significantly.” The ASCL advocates for increased governmental support to help close the disadvantage gap.

Ian Birbeck from Projects Abroad described the decline in school approval rates as “alarming,” expressing concern that leaders might lack “the confidence to invest time and effort into the application process.”

Following a successful application last year, Bellevue Place Education Trust’s leaders chose not to apply again.

CEO Mark Greatrex shared, “We felt we could not repeatedly handle this.” One headteacher dedicated their Easter holidays to the project while other staff assisted in securing student passports.

Record applications

Paul Rickeard, CEO of the Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust, noted hesitation in engaging with Turing due to concerns of not being able to include all students, fearing an unintended bifurcation of opportunities.

Birbeck emphasized the urgent need for transparency regarding project rejections and a higher overall awareness of the scheme.

The Department for Education emphasized its goal to provide necessary funding for successful school and FE applications, which means funding was fully allocated this year, capped at £300,000 for a consortium of schools, unlike previous years when funds were spread thinly across multiple providers.

The DfE reported a “record number of applications from schools” submitted this year.

Future of Turing

Greatrex described how his 11-school trust originally aimed to send all its “year six children on a cultural trip to Florence,” but after receiving only a partial grant, they scaled down to just four schools serving the most disadvantaged areas based on free school meal eligibility.

“Ironically, the individual who crafted the application from one school wasn’t selected, which was disheartening,” Greatrex added.

As of now, there has been no announcement on funding continuation for the Turing Scheme for the next year. In May, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith revealed that discussions were underway to “work towards” rejoining Erasmus+ on “much better financial terms for the UK.”

Details regarding the Turing Scheme for future years will be disclosed in due course.