Welsh Government Draft Budget Proposals 2012-2013

1.         Governors Wales promotes the effective governance of schools in Wales and provides support to individual governors, local governors associations, fora and other groupings.  Governors Wales is committed to the promotion and effective management of quality provision in schools in Wales.

2.         Governors Wales welcomes the opportunity to provide information to help the Finance Committee and other committees of the National Assembly for Wales scrutinise the Welsh Government’s 2012-2013 draft budget proposals and offers the following comments for consideration.

3.         The Welsh Government has indicated a standing commitment to ensure that the funding allocation to schools each year is at a level 1% above the block grant from the UK Government. This is in the context that average per pupil funding in Wales is about £600 per annum below England. Governors Wales looks to see that this commitment is met in the 2012/13 budget.

4.         Arising from that, there needs to be a default mechanism in place to ensure that this funding is passed on to the schools by Local Authorities.  Local Authorities generally have a good record in this respect, but given the difficult financial circumstances, there may be potential for channelling of some of the additional funding to other services.

5.         The work being undertaken to simplify the Department for Education and Skills grant system is welcomed as well as the identification of further specific grants to transfer to the revenue support grant in future years.

6.         Although the cost shift to frontline service delivery of education is welcomed, sufficient funding must still be allocated to deliver high quality support services via regional consortia /LAs etc., to support schools in their day to day running.

7.         Furthermore, it is important the teaching profession and support staff have access to relevant, high quality continuing professional development.  CPD must be kept high on the agenda.  Governors Wales urges that sufficient financial resources are set aside for this purpose.

8.         Lastly, governing bodies play a crucial role in raising standards within schools. The Education (Wales ) Measure 2011 will introduce the requirement that induction training for new governors, training for chairs of governing bodies and clerks becomes mandatory. To ensure, however, that governing bodies are effective in fulfilling all their responsibilities, they need continuing access to high quality expertise and advice.  Governors Wales hopes that the level of funding for governance activities and support will continue to be recognised to ensure and sustain strong educational outcomes.