Leaked memo shows how coalition government ministers discussed raiding free meals budget
The government was today accused of draining money from schemes aimed at the poorest children to fund their flagship policy of Swedish-style “free” schools.
Headteachers said coalition’s plan to introduce hundreds of free schools risked depriving money from existing primary secondaries amid suggestions that Michael Gove, education secretary, considered taking money from free school meal programme to fund schools. On Tuesday Gove expected to announce terms of review of Labour’s £55bn Building Schools for Future programme, review group made up of schools, local authorities construction experts which will report before comprehensive spending review autumn.
A Whitehall source with knowledge the programme said the review was likely focus removing Labour’s preconditions new school buildings, which emphasised that schools poorer, academically struggling areas received funding ahead thriving schools, even their buildings were less decrepit.
Tonight it emerged that ministers considered taking millions from budget that gives free school meals to the country’s poorest children, to pay parents to set up their own schools. It was reported by Channel Four news tonight that memo written by one Gove’s leading officials last week recommended that £35m be taken from funds free school meals redirected into the policy free schools.
Gove appears to endorse the idea the memo, which was leaked to Channel Four. Tonight the Department for Education would not deny the memo existed, but said it planned to use £50m from a pot that helped schools choose the right computer equipment to fund the new schools and to argue for more money from the Treasury the spending review. The Department for Education said no money was coming from free school meals to fund the schools.
Gove unveiled plans free schools today, emphasising that most would run by teachers. Some 750 groups poised apply start new school, which will run independently local authority. He said they would reduce some costs and make programme more flexible by scrapping planning laws allow schools spring up in former shops, homes or banks.
John Dunford, general secretary teaching union Association School and College Leaders, said: “These schools will not free local taxpayers or education budget as whole. At time when education budgets seriously cut, priority being given establishing these schools must questioned.
“The government has said that it wants to establish these as ’small schools small classes’. However, diseconomies of scale mean that smaller schools generally have larger classes. They could well end up more expensive to run than existing schools. There concern among school leaders that proposed ‘free’ schools will take funding away from other local schools.”
The correspondence between Gove his official reveals that ministers had planned pay the free schools money meant be spent rebuilding schools. But the Treasury appeared have said no this. The memo said there an “immediate challenge find the money″ pay free schools. Gove intends ask the Treasury further £120m free schools next year, it reveals.
Ed Balls, the shadow education secretary, said hundreds thousands children poorer families would have lost their free hot lunches to pay an experiment. “It deeply, deeply unfair and tells you everything you need to know about the values this new coalition,” he said.
More than 430,000 pupils receive free school meals – 15% of pupils state nursery, primary and secondary schools. They are entitled to benefit their parents receive welfare payments or earn below £15,575 per year. Gove has already vetoed Labour pilot projects to expand number of children who qualify for free school meals after it emerged that 1 million children below poverty line were not entitled. Ten days ago, government shelved an £85m scheme to extend free school meals to 500,000 more families this September. At time, Gove said savings would re-invested “measures that most directly affect attainment for poorest pupils”.
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