STATE schools in Wilmslow stand to lose more than £1.8 million a year in funding by 2019 if the national funding formula is approved.
Figures released by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and other teaching unions have revealed that schools across the country will lose out on £3 billion of funding by 2019-20, compared to 2015-16.
Wilmslow High School’s budget will be cut by nine per cent – representing a deduction of £669,063 from the last financial year.
The figures, which have been released on the schoolcuts.org.uk website, also show that primary schools in SK9, Mobberley, Chelford and Mottram St Andrew stand to lose more than £1.1 million a year in funding if the formula is accepted.
Andy Rowe, NUT secretary for east Cheshire, told the Guardian: “The proposed cuts to school funding is a major topic of conversation in all school staff rooms at the moment.
“Cheshire East Schools Forum discussed the issue at length on January 26 at a meeting in Middlewich and many, if not all headteachers present were alarmed at the prospect of fairer funding, or should I say, ‘unfairer funding’ for schools.”
According to the unions, Wilmslow High School’s budget deficiency would be the equivalent to having 18 fewer teachers on its books.
In total, schools in the area would lose funding for the equivalent of 45 teachers, plus one teaching assistant at Lindow Community Primary School, which is the least affected school in Wilmslow by the proposed funding formula.
The figures have been released as Cheshire East Council’s cabinet backed a move to ringfence more than £201 million in its budget for local schools.
They consider the impact of the proposed national funding formula alongside a planned cut to the education services grant, and the cash freeze on funding per pupil.
The move includes an increase in CEC’s schools growth fund, from £225,000 to more than £500,000.
Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, February 7, visiting Labour member Cllr Dorothy Flude, CEC member for Crewe South, told the cabinet she welcomed the decision, but would like to see east Cheshire schools be better supported by the Government.
“We are where we are with schools funding, and we hope in future this situation will improve,” she said.
“I know members of this council are working to improve this situation.”
Consultation on the national funding formula ends at 5pm on Wednesday, March 22.
To have your say on the proposals, visit consult.education.gov.uk/funding-policy-unit/schools-national-funding-formula2
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