School budget

[Fangsalot89]

Does anyone know if you can request to see a breakdown of the school budget by department? It’s a particular dept I’m actually interested in.
The school website doesn’t show this and I wasn’t sure if it’s something that’s well out of bounds for a parent to ask to see.
It’s a CofE state school rather than private.
Thanks

I'm just trying to picture my HT's response if a parent started quizzing them on an expenditure that they deemed inappropriate.

@Norestformrz Erm, thank you but really, who cares? I’d have thought that would be the least important thing about this post.

@CallmeHendricks My HT isn’t exactly amenable so getting a response off them regarding this is likely to be incredibly unsuccessful

I assumed you cared since you asked

@Norestformrz I asked why you just posted a screen shot as I don’t really understand the point and why you went to the trouble of doing so. You weren’t involved in that conversation. But anyway, let’s not derail.

You weren’t involved in that conversation.

I’m not sure you quite understand how forums work!

Or schools.

You do realise that when you post on mumsnet everybody is free to reply. Since you seemed unsure what Feenie was replying to I assumed providing the answer would be helpful obviously not!

@Feenie How do I not know how schools work exactly? I said it’s not a bad idea. I didn’t say that’s what governors are there for. 🤣

@Norestformrz Thanks for trying though.
Both you and feenie have hung onto the irrelevant part of the conversation.

Because we've already provided relevant information.

@Norestformrz Do you have anything to contribute to the topic or shall we waste time arguing about screenshots?

My contribution to the topic would be to suggest you keep your opinions about this school budget expense to yourself and don't add to the Head's woes at the end of what has possibly been the most difficult and stressful year ever.

@CallmeHendricks That’s fine and you are entitled to contribute that to the conversation. I think a parent has the right to ask why a school has spent the PE budget on an incessant expense which hasn’t come from a grant and yet insists on twisting the arm of parents to buy the essentials because they have no money. It’s not a jobs worth/Karen-esq request for clarification on that instance

*unnecessary (stupid auto correct.)

So, don't allow your arm to be twisted then? You don't sound such a shrinking violet.
It is entirely down to the school's/ Head's discretion to make such decisions about what they deem appropriate for the children in their care.
And as I said, now is really not the time to split hairs and pick holes. Schools are on their knees.

@CallmeHendricks In fairness, you don’t know the school I’m referring to (probably) and the head isn’t exactly known for spending money wisely anyway so I was merely trying to ascertain my rights as a parent to ask about how funds are spent.

Doesn't change my view that now is not the time to push things.

Could not agree more.

@CallmeHendricks that’s absolutely fine. It’s not really relevant to the original question but thank you for your response.

Well it kind of is. There is, in my opinion, no need for you to find out this information as a), it's the school's business, not yours and b), it would be better all round if you didn't pursue it.

And c), if you have no confidence in the Head's decisions, as seems apparent from the way you speak about them, perhaps you should be looking for another school?

@CallmeHendricks Generally I think the head does an ok job but the school overall is lovely so I don’t have to look for a new school. Plus if I moved my kid every time I didn’t like something, they’d never be anywhere for any amount of time.
A parent does have a right to know how the money is spent when the head comes to parents on a monthly basis asking/begging for you to fund them (which ordinarily I don’t mind) but then spends it on totally pointless stuff that didn’t need buying.

[quote Fangsalot89]@CallmeHendricks Generally I think the head does an ok job but the school overall is lovely so I don’t have to look for a new school. Plus if I moved my kid every time I didn’t like something, they’d never be anywhere for any amount of time.
A parent does have a right to know how the money is spent when the head comes to parents on a monthly basis asking/begging for you to fund them (which ordinarily I don’t mind) but then spends it on totally pointless stuff that didn’t need buying.[/quote]
I don't think there's any relation between your rights and the number of begging letters you receive. I could send you ten begging letters a day - doesn't mean I have the right to see what you spend your money on

Begging letters are just that - letters. You are not under any obligation to respond to them.

But essentially if you're curious about how the school spends its income - just ask. All this foaming on MN not answering any questions is rather pointless. A two minute email is all that is needed. They may say none of your business, in which case fair enough - you'll just have to continue to be internally vexed. Or they might say 'Yes of course here you go.'.

If it's for PE then it is almost certainly ring fenced money that could only be spent on PE.

If its for capital works (i.e. building works / repairs etc) then also, its likely ring fenced money that can only be spent that way.

Budgets are still below their 2008 levels adjusted for inflation and can only typically cover regular operating expenses. School funding doesn't allow for exceptional purchases outside of specific ring fenced funding and grants provided specifically for those purposes.

I suggest you just ask the head teacher. If you don't get a satisfactory answer write to the governors. However, I'm not sure what you plan to do with the information once you have it.

@titchy that’s what I was thinking. Perhaps I’ll be successful but perhaps not but I just wanted to see if it was something that is acceptable for parents to do/common practice what have you.