A major report suggesting how more money can reach education front line services in Wales has been published by Education Minister Leighton Andrews. Although it doesn’t say that it will cut admin services in schools this could be one way in which they are thinking.
If it is, the only defence, in my view, is to show that administration within each school is fundamental to the well-being of the school.
The report calculates the cost of administering education across Wales. It considers the numbers working in administering the education system, and crucially identifies opportunities to move resources from administration to the delivery of front line services.
The report analyses £4.1 billion of the annual expenditure on the education system in Wales of which direct funding for learning and teaching and other education expenditure accounts for 68 per cent of the total. The remaining 32 per cent is made up of support services, such as service management and financial administration.
The report identifies key opportunities for exploration grouped under two key themes.
The first, Simplifying Governance, includes continuing to look for opportunities to simplify the structure of grant schemes. The second, Standardising and Sharing Provision, includes exploring the opportunity for further development of more regional consortia sharing educational support. There may also be more scope for schools to form clusters to share resources and facilities.
Education Minister Leighton Andrews said: “I have made it clear that I want to ensure more funding reaches the education front line – our schools, colleges and universities.
“Much has already been done across the public sector in Wales, specifically within education to deliver efficiencies and improve services to achieve the highest possible standards of education and training.
“The review is not about cuts in funding, but freeing up resources by changing the balance in funding between front line and support services.
“This review suggests some practical ideas and opportunities, laying strong foundations for action. We now require a step change to take these forward with purpose and urgency with all organisations involved in the delivery of education having a crucial part to play.”
Tony Attwood
