By Alex Klaushofer
July 1, 2009
Schools in England need to manage their finances more judiciously as pressures on public spending mount, the Audit Commission has warned.
A report, Valuable lessons, published on June 30, found that schools could save £400m a year by making better decisions when buying stationery and desks. Researchers compared similar schools and found that savings of £65m could be made on equipment and supplies and £80m on cleaning and caretaking.
The report also found that almost 40% of schools are sitting on surpluses, amounting to almost £2bn, that could be better spent on pupils.
Audit Commission chair Michael O’Higgins said: ‘The commission supports the principle of devolved school budgets and decision making, but taxpayers must be confident that public money is well spent.
‘Now, however, is a good time for schools to look for better value from the money they get. Budgets are growing more slowly and schools need to start planning for a more austere future. We believe savings could be made without adversely affecting pupils or their education.’
Malcolm Trobe, policy director for the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘The vast majority of secondary schools make good use of consistent financial reporting and benchmark their expenditure in line with sound financial management.
‘It is a sensible recommendation for schools to benchmark their expenditure but they schools must be allowed to have their own priorities and to decide where funds are best spent.’
July 1, 2009
Schools in England need to manage their finances more judiciously as pressures on public spending mount, the Audit Commission has warned.
A report, Valuable lessons, published on June 30, found that schools could save £400m a year by making better decisions when buying stationery and desks. Researchers compared similar schools and found that savings of £65m could be made on equipment and supplies and £80m on cleaning and caretaking.
The report also found that almost 40% of schools are sitting on surpluses, amounting to almost £2bn, that could be better spent on pupils.
Audit Commission chair Michael O’Higgins said: ‘The commission supports the principle of devolved school budgets and decision making, but taxpayers must be confident that public money is well spent.
‘Now, however, is a good time for schools to look for better value from the money they get. Budgets are growing more slowly and schools need to start planning for a more austere future. We believe savings could be made without adversely affecting pupils or their education.’
Malcolm Trobe, policy director for the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘The vast majority of secondary schools make good use of consistent financial reporting and benchmark their expenditure in line with sound financial management.
‘It is a sensible recommendation for schools to benchmark their expenditure but they schools must be allowed to have their own priorities and to decide where funds are best spent.’
