Higher school funding levels....not a magic bullet.

What can be done to combat the low level of educational achievement in Suffolk schools?

Matters are improving; our exam results are rising faster than the national average. However, change needs to be more rapid and the Conservative Group is seeking to understand what more can be done to move Suffolk children up the national league tables.

Yesterday we had a session about schools funding, which was very instructive, and may offer some answers, although the message was that money alone does not hold the key to high achievement.

In part due to history and in part due to politically motivated ‘transfers’ under the last Government, Suffolk’s schools are among the worse funded in England.  A child in Hackney will receive some £3500 more than a child in an average Suffolk School.  It is tempting to blame this disparity for our problems, but to do so would be to oversimplify the problem.

Although it is true to say that some of the worst performing areas also receive the lowest level of per capita funding, there are local authorities, Gloucestershire for example, that manage to deliver above average educational outcomes despite the fact that funding levels are low.

The current government is looking at the question and it is very likely that in future the imbalance in funding will be to some extent addressed. Indeed some limited extra funding for those with the meanest settlements has already been announced.

It is clear however that while more money is likely to help somewhat, this alone will not solve the problem.