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INFORMATION AND ADVICE FOR NUT DIVISION
SECRETARIES |
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Background |
The recently published DfES
circular LEA/054/2001 on The Standards Fund 2002-2003 sets out the arrangements
for the Standards Fund generally, including for the achievement of ethnic
minority and Traveller pupils. In summary, the DfES circular outlines the
arrangements which are set out below. |
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Changes in 2002-2003 |
There are no significant changes to
the operation of the Standards Fund arrangements in 2002-2003, to allow for
consolidation of the changes made in 2001-2002. From 2003-2004, the DfES will
be introducing a new LEA funding system which will impact on the Standards
Fund. |
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Individual Categories |
Allocations will
continue to be grouped in six broad categories and almost all will be allocated
by formula, not by bidding. Allocations will be made in the six broad
categories as set out below. |
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- Schools Improvement;
- Inclusion;
- Standards and Curriculum (including ethnic minority
and Traveller achievement);
- Diversity and Excellence;
- Teachers and Support; and
- Capital and Infrastructure.
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Freedom for schools to determine spending
priorities |
Schools will continue to be able to
vire money freely between allocations (including allocations in different
categories) at any time.
One of the exceptions will be that
schools must spend at least the full amount of any allocation for ethnic
minority achievement for the defined purposes. |
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Monitoring via objectives/outputs |
LEAs are expected to encourage schools
to focus on the intended outcomes, through light-touch monitoring integrated
into schools’ and LEAs’ strategies for raising pupil achievement and
other key priorities. |
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Grant Rate |
Allocations to LEAs will be made
either at 100 per cent or at a composite grant rate of 52 per cent (as compared
to 53 per cent in 2001-2002). |
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Formula Allocations |
Allocations to LEAs will normally
be formula-based, for example according to numbers of schools or pupils, as at
January 2001. The basis for allocating the grant to LEAs for ethnic minority
pupils’ achievement will be notified to LEAs, along with their allocations
in November 2001. The grant for traveller children achievement will be
allocated to LEAs taking account of historical patterns. |
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Virement of Allocation |
At LEA level most allocations
will continue to be ring-fenced and LEAs will be expected either to spend the
money themselves for the specified purpose or to devolve it to schools under
the same heading. Where an allocation is specified as being limited to a
particular purpose, this requirement can be satisfied by a statement that this
condition has been met within reasonable tolerances (to within 5 per cent or
£10,000 whichever is less). There will be no separate audit certification
of Standards Fund expenditure, or any other accounting requirement beyond what
would apply to an LEA’s other public spending.
At school level, with limited
exceptions, schools will be able to vire money freely between allocations at
anytime. The exceptions include the requirement that LEAs must make it a
condition of grant to schools that they will spend at least the full amount of
any allocation for ethnic minority achievement on raising attainment for ethnic
minority pupils. |
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Consortium Arrangements |
As in previous years, cross- LEA
consortia will be encouraged, including for traveller children. |
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The Standards Fund 2002-2003 – EMAG and
Traveller Education – Advice to Divisions |
The NUT’s priority consistently
has been to protect EMAG and traveller education posts and to press the
Government to protect and increase funding to meet the specific educational
needs of minority ethnic pupils, including traveller and refugee pupils.
Further advice may be provided to divisions on other aspects of the Standards
Fund Circular once the rest of the Circular has been analysed.
It is important to note that
all LEAs will be in receipt of funding under the Standards Fund for
ethnic minority pupils. All divisions, therefore, are advised to seek meetings
with their LEAs. It is essential that divisions seek advice from their regional
offices about the application of the guidance in this circular.
Following pressure from the Union and others, the DfES
has continued the arrangement for the ethnic minority and Traveller
pupils’ achievement elements of the funding to remain ringfenced.
For the achievement of ethnic
minority pupils, the DfES intends to notify LEAs the basis for allocating the
grant, along with their allocations in November 2001. Of the total, 15 per cent
or £150,000, whichever is greater, may be retained to provide central
services. LEAs are expected to devolve the balance by a needs-based, fair and
transparent distribution mechanism which may be varied at local discretion. The
DfES will consult interested parties in the autumn on options for moving to a
needs-based funding formula for 2003-2004.
LEAs and schools will be expected
to integrate their targets and strategies for ethnic minority and Traveller
pupils’ achievement into Education Development Plans and School
Development Plans respectively. |
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Divisions are
asked to press LEAs to provide guidance to schools on integrating ethnic
minority and Traveller achievement strategies within School Development
Planning.
As the ethnic minority
achievement grant is one of the few grants which is specifically earmarked, it
may be appropriate for LEAs to request schools to provide specific information
on the operation of this grant. |
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Following consistent pressure from
the Union, the DfES has retained the requirement for LEAs to hold centrally the
Traveller children achievement grant. This allocation must be spent at LEA
level on services and activities related to the identification, placement,
assessment, attendance and progress of Traveller pupils, together with systems
for maintaining and passing on records to any other LEA. |
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The allocation for ethnic minority
achievement must be spent, whether at LEA or school level, on activities
directly related to the raising of standards for ethnic minority and EAL
pupils. Only 5 per cent of the allocations may be allowed for cross virement to
other Standards Fund priorities at either LEA or school level. |
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Divisions are urged to press LEAs to ensure that they
- meet the DfES’s requirement for
non-vireability of this particular grant; and
- provide clear information to schools that
this element of the grant must be used for the purpose intended
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Although not specifically mentioned in
the Standards Fund circular, in most LEAs arranging buy-back services for the
funding which has been devolved to schools will be the best option. This will
enable to protect members’ jobs and to provide a flexible service to
schools which meets the needs of minority ethnic pupils.
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Divisions are
asked to press LEAs to continue their existing buy-back arrangements as the
best option |
The latest proposals may to lead to
some changes in LEAs’ current arrangements.
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Where necessary, having
consulted their regional offices, divisions are asked to call meetings of
members whose jobs may be at risk to brief those teachers on the steps being
taken by the Union to protect them and to seek information from them which
would assist the Union’s efforts to provide full support.
On the issue of salary
safeguarding, divisions are advised to be guided by the Union’s success in
the Bristol Employment Tribunal. |
The Union will continue to give the
highest priority to resisting job-losses. It is essential division secretaries
co-ordinate with, and seek the advice of, regional offices at every stage of
the development of LEA plans for distributing the grants.
This advice is based on the
information currently available. Divisions are asked to relay to the Education
and Equal Opportunities Department at NUT headquarters, information on the
application of the DfES circular. Following feedback from divisions, further
guidance will be issued, as appropriate. Any queries on this circular should be
addressed to ‘EMAG 2002-2003’ in the Education and Equal
Opportunities Department at Headquarters. |
