Haringey residents called upon to help end schools' funding gap

By LiseS | Friday, April 23, 2010, 13:37

Local MPs have called upon Hackney residents to help end the "unfair funding of Haringey schools" caused by a bizarre discrepancy between funding and salary payment in the borough.

School's out - the discrepancy between funding and pay levels in Haringey schools has lead to a sizeable funding gap

Currently, Haringey is categorised as an "outer London" borough for funding purposes, meaning schools receive £1,318 less per pupil per year than schools in inner London boroughs (which include Islington and Hackney). But staff in Haringey schools are paid an inner London salary, meaning a bigger salary bill for Haringey than other outer London schools.

The government are now consulting Haringey residents on different funding options from September 2011 onward. Hornsey and Wood Green's Lynne Featherstone and Tottenham's David Lammy have both urged everyone in the borough to take part in the consultation and get a better deal for Haringey schools. The "hybrid" option in Question 14 will allow for an increase in funding of £10.8million - or around £400 per pupil.

"Please take a minute to respond," urged Fetherstone, "this is our chance to make a difference for our kids' futures." Lammy added, "We can no longer watch as across Haringey's border schools in Hackney and Islington receive over £1,000 more per child from the Government."

The consultation document can be read online here, and to respond to the document click here.The consultation will run until the 7th June 2010.