Research from the EIS found that out of 262 schools surveyed, only 23 schools have set up committees to oversee money spend aimed at closing the attainment gap
NEW RESEARCH HAS found that less than 10 per cent of schools across Scotland have any form of a committee to oversee money intended to be spent on the most disadvantaged children.
Results from the teacher survey carried out by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) found that only 23 schools – out of 262 schools across Scotland surveyed – have formed a committee to decide how to spend money from the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF).
The teaching union welcomed Deputy First Minister John Swinney’s announcement last week that there will be £120m in the PEF for the year ahead, but added its concerns about the “appropriate democratic oversight” of the financial decisions currently being made.
The EIS believes that the solution to this is for every school in Scotland to set up a finance committee to oversee spending that will best support teachers and pupils.
“Headteachers are clearly hugely important to school leadership, but the collegiate model within schools remains the best method of ensuring all staff are involved with, and engaged in, important decisions on learning.” Larry Flanagan
EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said: “It is disappointing to discover, through our national survey, that fewer than nine per cent of schools have a finance committee in operation to agree how PEF funding should be used.
“The EIS supports the important role of the head teacher as the leader of learning within the school, but we believe that collegiate decision-making that involves all teachers is an essential component of effective schools.
“Headteachers are clearly hugely important to school leadership, but the collegiate model within schools remains the best method of ensuring all staff are involved with, and engaged in, important decisions on learning.”
The PEF is additional money from the Scottish Government’s £750m Attainment Scotland Fund, which will be allocated directly to schools aimed at closing the poverty-related attainment gap.
“[Scottish Labour’s] argument has always been that it should be spent on evidence-based interventions, decided in each school by the headteacher and his or her staff team.“ Iain Gray
Allocation from the PEF is based on the number of pupils from primary one to secondary three who are eligible and registered for free school meals.
Funding from the PEF is spent at the discretion of head teachers, who are working in partnership with school leaders and local authorities.
Both Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have raised concerns about how money from the PEF is currently spent in schools.
Scottish Labour’s shadow cabinet secretary for education, Iain Gray, said: “Our argument has always been that it should be spent on evidence-based interventions, decided in each school by the headteacher and his or her staff team.
“The government’s approach – to bypass local councils- is not collaborative. Nor does it recognise that it is local councils that employ teachers.” Tavish Scott
“That would be the best use of the wide professional expertise available in the school, and it is disappointing to see how few schools are following this model.
“Too often it seems that SNP ministers are happy to have PEF as a flag to wave to show they are ‘doing something’, without following through on the detailed policy work.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott MSP said: “How money is spent in schools matters to parents, pupils and teachers alike. So discussions on how best to improve standards in classrooms needs to involve everyone who strives for better.
“The government’s approach – to bypass local councils- is not collaborative. Nor does it recognise that it is local councils that employ teachers.
“We encourage schools to work with a wide range of stakeholders to decide on the use of the funding, but we are committed to ensuring the use of this funding remains at the discretion of the headteacher and does not become weighed down by committee structures or unnecessary bureaucracy.” Scottish Governement spokesperson
“It is time central government and local government worked together to build the best educational future for Scotland’s young people.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Pupil Equity Funding is provided directly to schools for headteachers to spend at their discretion to close the poverty-related attainment gap.
“What’s more, there is clear feedback that it has been widely welcomed and is working in schools the length and breadth of Scotland.
“We encourage schools to work with a wide range of stakeholders to decide on the use of the funding, but we are committed to ensuring the use of this funding remains at the discretion of the headteacher and does not become weighed down by committee structures or unnecessary bureaucracy.”
Picture courtesy of Converse College
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