Fighting Against Cuts in Education

1995 - We got them talking about schools

1996 - Now let's make sure they fund them!

Education really has made it to the top of the political agenda and it's all thanks to the efforts of thousands of parents, governors and teachers across the country. Make no mistake, the extra £800m for schools in the November '95 budget would not have been there if we had not made our voices heard - and loudly. But there is no time to be complacent - we actually need £2,454m to get back to where we were in 1993. We still have to make our voices heard. Even louder. Or the cuts in our kids' schools will continue.

Oxfordshire will be worse off than many other counties.

The Government are denying Oxfordshire proper funding on two major counts. In December the County Council calculated they needed 5% increase in funding to protect all services. The Government response was to cap the increase at 3% AND earmark much of the extra money for education - ignoring the needs other services. On top of this the Government changed the Education funding rules (the Standard Spending Assessment) so that, although most other counties received increased funding at 4.5%, Oxfordshire is limited to only 3.2%. That means that our share of the £800m is only 70% of what other counties are getting!

Thus in practical terms the scarce funds coming to Oxfordshire barely covering inflation, do not allow for rising pupil and elderly people numbers, do not begin to fund compulsory seat belt legislation or restore reserves used up last year. No wonder all three political parties are united in fighting for a fairer settlement.

Not enough money for our schools - again

Coming on top of the savage cuts we've already had, any shortfall in funding this coming year is a disaster for schools. Even if the County Council passes all the earmarked money right through to schools then our education budgets are still cut by 2.2% - absolute minimum! But remember that's not as bad as areas such as Social Services where the Government is forcing cuts of 7%.

The County Council is finding this difficult to accept. One likely option is to spread the misery by moving some money out of education to support other services. Thus increasing those education cuts. Another option is to set a budget above the Government's imposed cap.

What can you do to stop the cuts?

• Write to your MP: Demand explanations why funding is still so appallingly bad. Ask why Oxfordshire children should be so badly hit. Tell them what the effect is in your child's class and school.
• Write to your County Councillor: Make sure they know that education should still be their top priority.
• Support the bid to raise the Cap.
• Join us at County Hall on Tuesday 13th February from 8.00am before the full County Council meeting to decide its budget for next year. Make sure your school is represented.

Issued by FACE Cherwell Pyramid, Oxford. Phone Andy Swarbrick (Chair) 01865 58368 or David Long (Treasurer) 01865 513864 for further information. David can also be contacted at 100556.2047@compuserve.com

Go to the FACE front page.