MP tells council "stop moving the goalposts" for schools' funding

THE borough’s MP said Thurrock Council needs to “stop moving the goalposts” when it comes to funding for schools.

Jackie Doyle-Price is “very concerned” about how Thurrock Council has been dealing with schools over funding lately.

The Labour run authority is currently embroiled in a row over money with both the Ockendon Academy and Chafford Hundred Campus.

It has tried to claw-back £1.2million of the Ockendon Academy’s cash, which the school had been saving in recent years to build a new eight classroom block, and it is also having second thoughts about giving Chafford Hundred Campus £1.4million of capital funding for its new sixth form centre, after a dispute about which qualifications will be offered there.

The school has now decided to break away form the council and become a Harris Academy.

Tory MP Jackie said: “I am very concerned about how the Education department at Thurrock Council is dealing with funding issues and managing its relationships with Academy schools.

“Schools are entitled to pursue the freedoms that Academy status gives them and it is not for the local authority to stand in their way, the council needs to stop moving the goalposts when it comes to funding for schools.

“Schools need financial certainty if they are to focus their energies on delivering quality education for our children”

Jackie said the council knew the Ockendon Academy had been putting aside money for a much needed classroom block for years, and it didn’t have a problem with this until the school decided to become an academy.

She said: “I have been making representations to the Council on the School’s behalf.

“Claw back provisions are there quite rightly to prevent schools from hoarding money instead of spending it on teaching pupils. It is clear to me that this is not the case at Ockendon.

“The monies being clawed back are earmarked for the construction of a new eight classroom block which has been planned since January 2009.

“The Council is fully aware of the school’s plans as it has been managing the building programme – a programme which has been delayed because the builder went bust.

“For the last five years the schools financial returns were never questioned - until it became an Academy.

“By its actions the Council is wilfully putting these much needed classrooms at risk.”

Thurrock Council told the Gazette it has to review schools’ balances each year to check that they are not carrying forward “excessive” amounts.

Diana Hale, the Labour portfolio holder for education, said:

"The MP seems to run a story when she only has one half of the picture. She agreed to have regular meetings with the Director and me but attended one and then changed her mind.

"We haven't moved the goal posts - the five per cent Secondary and eight per cent primary balances rule has been in place for 20 years to my knowledge.

"If the DfE support the Council's case the money will go straight back into the Schools Forum to be redistributed. If Ockendon School win then there will be ramifications for every school and local authority in England."

The matter is now in the hands of the secretary of state.