Eagle Announces Record School Funding Levels

24 January 2007
EAGLE ANNOUNCES RECORD SCHOOL FUNDING LEVELS

Education Minister, Maria Eagle, today announced a record funding allocation of Ł1.4billion for schools and Education and Library Boards next year.
A Ł25million boost in schools' budgets increases the average spending per pupil by Ł112.
Speaking during a visit to St Malachy's College, Belfast, the Minister said: "This level of funding underlines Government's continuing commitment to education in Northern Ireland. At a time when pupil numbers are falling fast, we are investing more than ever in our schools. This money will make a real difference to schools as they plan for the year ahead."
Emphasising the important role of school governors and principals in using this money to support delivery in the classroom, the Minister said: "I am particularly pleased that, through the Children and Young People Fund, we allocated an extra Ł10 million this year direct to Heads on top of their usual allocation. I am very pleased to announce today that we will increase that by over 60% for 2007/08 - to Ł16 million. This money will give school leaders extra spending power to use in the ways they feel can best deliver the right outcomes for children and young people."
The funding for schools will be allocated via the common funding formula introduced in April 2005. Following consultation with schools, some factors within that formula have been moderated to ensure that they reflect as closely as possible the main cost drivers in schools. Schools will be notified separately of their individual delegated budgets. Indicative summaries for each school are also being published today on the Department of Education website.
The Minister confirmed her continuing commitment to extended schools, through which schools offer a range of services to their wider communities, open from early morning to late evening: "We provided Ł10million direct to schools this year to develop extended schools. I am very pleased that Ł10million will again be provided in 2007/08 to ensure that those schools can continue to develop their provision beyond the traditional school day, supporting young people, their parents and carers in innovative ways, further embedding schools as hubs of their local communities. This brings the total additional funding going direct to schools in 2007-08, outside of normal budgets, to Ł26million."
The Minister also announced budget increases for the five Education & Library Boards. They will receive an additional Ł22million to support provision for special educational needs; maintenance of school buildings; healthier school meals and other key front-line services, taking the total money going to Boards to Ł388 million - an increase of 6%.
The Minister reiterated the Secretary of State's call to local politicians to continue to prioritise education funding upon a return to devolved government: "We have pumped unprecedented levels of funding into education. The improved planning of school provision recommended in the Bain Review, and the streamlining of bureaucracy and administration planned through the Review of Public Administration will undoubtedly deliver even better outcomes for young people from the increased levels of funding.
"Northern Ireland needs thriving, sustainable and well-funded schools that contribute towards a shared future; everyone involved in education must work together to make them a reality."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
St Malachy's College is a specialist school for music - one of 12 specialist schools in Northern Ireland.
Media queries, contact the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9701.
View the amounts announced today for schools and for Education & Library Boards (pdf)

Click here to print this press release.