Derbyshire County Councillor Alan Charles replies to Michael Miller's questions at the Council Meeting on 1st November 2006

6.56.28pm GMT Sun 26th Nov 2006

Michael Miller asks about the saving's

At the Derbyshire County Council Meeting on 1st November 2006 Michael Miller asked:

"Costs per pupil at Derbyshire schools, re Stoney Middleton CE(C) Primary School

"In his report to Cabinet, at its meeting on 17th October (the Minutes of which will be before the Council at item 4 of today's Agenda) Councillor Alan Charles proposed that consultation be started with the view to closing Stoney Middleton Church of England Primary School; he stated that the cost of education per pupil at Stoney Middleton School is £5,678, against an average per pupil across the whole of Derbyshire of £2,640.

"The more relevant comparison to be made is against the costs per pupil at the schools which are put forward as alternatives for Stoney Middleton children, namely Curbar and also Eyam and Grindleford Primary Schools. May I please be informed of the costs per pupil at each of these three schools, and may I also be informed of the highest cost per pupil at any Primary School in Derbyshire?"

In a verbal reply Councillor Charles stated:-

Curbar: £3554, Eyam: £3476 and Grindleford: £3518

The highest cost for a primary school in Derbyshire: £6261

With all Stoney Middleton children added to each school these numbers would be

Curbar: £2990 Eyam: £2931 Grindleford: £2963

Michael Miller than asked a supplementary question:-

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Gordon Brown, said in his Budget speech this year that he aims to increase school funding for State schools from £5,000 to £8,000 per pupil. By 2008 spending per pupil will already have increased to £5,750. The Council's Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - School Planning and Support/Children's Services has acknowledged, at its meeting of 22 March this year, that "The budget settlement had resulted in a healthy increase for schools and this was anticipated again next year". It does appear however that Derbyshire is spending only half the National average for each State school pupil.

If we are to understand the concern expressed to Cabinet by Councillor Charles about funding and value for money for Derbyshire schools we need to know his estimate of the amount he reckons might be saved by depriving Stoney Middleton children of their own village school. Will he please inform us of that amount?

Michael Miller has now received a written to his supplementary question from Dave Molyneux the Clerk to the Cabinet as follows:-

"It is quite a difficult question to work out on the spur of the moment and we will probably have to get that analysed. The simple answer on the Gordon Brown issue of wanting to increase funding on State education to the same level as the private education service I think is a long way off, particularly in Derbyshire. When you quote national average spending per pupil on students it is a very complex formula across the country how funding is allocated to local authorities. I am sure you will be aware that Derbyshire has improved its position, it is still on the lower end of funding across the country so it is very difficult to make a direct comparison between children in Derbyshire schools against the national averages.

"On the saving I would suggest what it would be is a difference between the £5,678 currently spent on children at Stoney Middleton to the £2,990 at Curbar, if the children were admitted to Curbar, multiplied by the number of children".

Related Link:

Council Meeting 1st November 2006.