Reform-run Kent council plans £2m school budget raid

Council evaluates services for maintained schools

Kent, the largest council in England, has traditionally leaned on council tax revenues to support various services accessible to its maintained schools.

Documentation from the authority indicates a decision to scrutinize the funding to guarantee that it was not inadvertently favoring maintained schools in comparison to academies.

Council officials highlighted that this subsidy was not being provided to academy-controlled primary and secondary schools, which constitute roughly half of the local education landscape and serve two-thirds of the student body.

The council is proposing to increase its financial cut from maintained schools by slightly over £2.2 million to fund services that are presently subsidized. These services encompass statutory compliance testing, including asbestos management, fire safety, and health advice.

Additionally, Kent aims to discontinue its in-house occupational health services, which would save close to £345,000, requiring schools to source this support independently.

Kebede pointed out that Kent’s schools have faced severe impacts from 15 years of austerity, with NEU analysis indicating that four-fifths of schools now have £126 million less spending capacity compared to 2010.

Schools oppose the proposals

Documents reveal that nearly 60 percent of schools rejected the plans to allocate funds for statutory compliance testing and evaluations.

Critics cited budgetary worries and a belief that schools ought to commission these services independently.

While 48 percent of schools supported acquiring occupational health advice and support as needed, 41 percent were against it. A higher percentage of schools expressed disagreement with the other funding proposals.

Kent officials remarked that critics generally fit into two categories.

Some believed school leaders should have the freedom to purchase what they need rather than having a service imposed, while others argued that the council must bear the costs since schools cannot manage this financial drain.

The council noted that many schools lack the budget, expertise, or personnel to self-manage these essential services, particularly in the primary sector. Meanwhile, an opt-in system would only add to schools’ expenses.

Maintained schools cannot choose providers

Academy consultant Lucia Glynn remarked that Kent’s issues reflect challenges faced nationwide, with nearly all local authorities compelled to diminish services for schools.

However, she added, “Academies have the flexibility to choose from available options, while maintained schools do not. Some local authority services are not up to a satisfactory standard.”

The proposed changes require endorsement from the county’s schools forum next month before their anticipated launch in April. If the forum rejects the plans, the council might escalate the issue to the education secretary.

Kent had conceded last year that it lacked the budget to extend school improvement assistance. Consequently, schools in the region must now fund the necessary support themselves, with specific aid for struggling institutions being withdrawn entirely.

A spokesperson for the Local Government Association conveyed that the financial hurdles confronting councils have led to service cuts, while also recognizing that schools face significant budget constraints.

“This underlines the urgency for councils to receive adequate funding in the autumn budget to fulfill their educational responsibilities effectively,” they emphasized.

Reform opted not to provide additional comments.

Council argues that changes are not unprecedented

The party previously asserted that its DOGE team, led by policy chief Zia Yusuf, had discovered that over £24,000 was spent on activities like trampolining, bowling, and cinema outings for asylum seekers.

Yusuf had stated: “Reform is dedicated to safeguarding taxpayer interests.”

A Kent spokesperson clarified that the adjustments are “not new” and are a response to national policy shifts that have led to a gradual decrease in council budgets for educational services, aligning with practices in the academy sector.

The authority is facing mounting financial strain from rising expenses, escalating demands for adult and children’s social care services, and insufficient government and local tax funding.

They added: “In order to establish a balanced budget, the council must implement savings and concentrate expenditure on its primary objectives.”