Council counts cost of new academies

Swindon has been named as having the third highest academy conversion rate in the country, with the newly formed Churchfields Academy opening its doors for the first time just yesterday.

Although the move to academy status is generally seen as a financially wise move for a school, as it becomes independent of local authority control, it means that Swindon Council potentially faces cuts to Government grants.

In the Revenue 2011/12 forecast, to be discussed at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, the council says it must prepare for a loss of between £800,000 and £1.35m this year and between £1.33m and £1.83m next year because of the number of schools becoming academies.

In the report, the Cabinet Member For Finance Mark Edwards says the Department for Education has proposed to cut funding. One option would be a pro-rata grant reduction applied across the country. It would mean Swindon would face a grant reduction of £800,000 with a further £1.33m in 2012-3.

“Option two is to make the funding cuts proportionate to the number of academies or academy pupils in each Local Authority,” the report says.

“Swindon has the third highest secondary conversion rate in the country and the potential impact on Swindon is estimated at grant reductions of £1.35m this year and £1.83m next year.”

Speaking ahead of yesterday’s opening, Churchfields Academy headteacher Steve Flavin said: “Our conversion to an academy is recognition of the outstanding education which the school provides.

“As an independent, state-funded academy we can continue to work closely with parents and our local primary schools to ensure that we offer high quality teaching and learning.

“The most significant change is that the extra funding will enable us to place more emphasis on the classroom. That will enable us to employ more teachers and reduce class sizes.

“We are not part of the local authority any more. We are in charge of our own destiny.”