Three Christian schools in Bristol have voted against extra funding for children with additional needs, sparking a debate over resource allocation.
Bristol: So, here’s the scoop. Three Christian schools in Bristol just voted against a plan to help kids with additional education needs. It’s all about some extra cash—£5 million from the city council meant to support these kids.
The schools had to choose how to split this money for the upcoming school year. One option was to divide it based on the total number of students. The other option aimed to focus more on helping disadvantaged kids with special needs.
During a meeting, the schools forum, which includes representatives from various schools, discussed the options. Vik Verma, the council’s education director, pointed out that the second option would likely help those who need it most. He emphasized that it’s not just about the money but also about improving outcomes for the kids.
In the end, three schools voted for the first option, while 11 went with the second. The schools that opposed the funding plan were St Bernadette Catholic Secondary, St Bede’s Catholic College, and St John’s Church of England Primary.
Merche Clark, a governor at St John’s, shared her thoughts. She mentioned that there isn’t a huge difference between the two options. The current funding formula already considers factors like deprivation, so it’s a bit of a balancing act.
She added that while option two might help more schools overall, some schools that are already getting close to the maximum funding per student might not benefit as much. It’s a tricky situation, and everyone’s trying to figure out the best way to support the kids who need it.
