‘Exacerbating unfairness between rich and poor, BBC News has revealed that pupils in some of the poorest regions of the country are being left behind because parents cannot afford to fill funding gaps with donations.
While the main political parties have all pledged to improve school funding as part of their election manifestos, the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme's analysis of Department for Education data found that the average school in England generated £59 per pupil from donations in 2017-18 - 1.07 per cent of its overall budget.
The Fair Education Alliance, a coalition of 150 organisations aimed at tackling perceived inequalities in the school system, said that this gap ‘exacerbates unfairness between rich and poor’, after it was discovered that the average school in London raised £43,000 from donations in 2017-18, whilst in Yorkshire it was just £13,300.
Often raised through events, such as fun runs and school fairs, one school in Sunderland gained just £679 from donations, the equivalent of 43p per pupil, in 2017-18. Meanwhile, schools in London, the east of England (£24,585 per year) and the North West (£20,844) were deemed the most likely to profit. On the other hand, schools in Yorkshire (£13,288), the North East (£13,394) and East Midlands (£17,044) struggle.
Sam Butters, head of the Fair Education Alliance, said: “The fact that parents in wealthier areas can afford to fill some of this funding gap exacerbates unfairness between rich and poor. We know that schools in all areas are cash-strapped as funding has decreased in real terms during the period of austerity, so it is not surprising that they are making efforts to seek funds from alternative sources.
"Teachers and school leaders are increasingly reporting a lack of funding for necessities - including, for example, teaching assistants to support in classrooms. If insufficient school funding requires donations from parents to meet shortfalls, schools in deprived areas are going to lose out."
The CEO of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) Fiona MacGregor will step down after more than ten years in the role.
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published its annual statistics about the social housing sector.
The new Bus Bill has become law, aimed at making it easier for local leaders to take control of their buses.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has set a 2029 timeline for the removal of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from all schools an
Awaab's Law has come into effect today in a bid to ensure safer housing for tenants.
Grantex is the UK’s leading supplier of specialist aggregates and producer of Premium Dried Sports Sand for High-Performance Synthetic Pitches.
Creating and maintaining an outstanding synthetic pitch starts with the right foundation. Grantex premium dried silica sand is engineered to deliver exceptional performance, durability and safety across a range of synthetic sports surfaces.
Join us for the landmark 10th Anniversary of the London Build Expo, the UK’s largest and most influential construction and design show.
Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Expo returns to Excel London across 12-13 November, once again bringing together the world of logistics, supply chain, eCommerce and retail innovation for two dynamic days of opportunity.
Every sport, from grassroots football to world-class tournaments, depends on one constant: high-quality playing surfaces and well-maintained green spaces.
Bauder marked a major milestone in its UK expansion with the official handover of a brand
At Words of World, we specialise in professional translation and interpreting, d
The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) and the Cleaning & Support Services Association (CSSA) have successfully completed a groundbreaking project aimed at exploring the future of cleaning. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the cleaning industry, reflecting a shared commitment to embracing innovation with confidence.
The Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) new framework on Language Services (RM6302), dealing with translation, transcription and interpreting, is live, running from 7th May 2025 to 6th May 2028.
