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 should add, I'm a governor.

[quote Fangsalot89]@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.[/quote]
The heads spending is overseen by the LA if it is a maintained school or by the trust if it is an academy. You may be unhappy with things but the head does not have to justify it to you.
If you ask directly they may choose to explain but there is no obligation to do so.

The PE grant is very strictly ring fenced. Schools can actually find it very difficult to spend the money, which is very frustrating when they desperately need to spend money elsewhere.

@triuli

When you say “spend money elsewhere” are you still talking about within that department rather than overall?

So for example, this school doesn’t have any money for the basics within the PE and relies increasingly more upon parent donations and gets quite heavy handed with the monthly pressure to give more and more to buy this stuff on their behalf.

They’ve recently bought an item for every child which wasn’t a necessity and it’s been confirmed this wasn’t a grant or donation etc.

I was just wondering if to enquire how it was paid for would be acceptable as a parent.

No, it wouldn't.

How do you know the items weren't essential - how well do you know the PE curriculum? Have you ever taught any PE?

@Feenie You’ve made that opinion clear.
Logic and investigation is how I know it’s not on the curriculum

Head teachers have had a hellish year. As have all school staff.

But I'm sure that any reasonable head would respond to an enquiring email if it is appropriate, and might even take on board that parents are curious about expenditure and appeals for financial help from the school.

Having said that, you come across as quite prickly on this thread, so maybe get someone to look over your email to ensure it gives a friendly, supportive and reasonable tone rather than confrontational.

What kind of PE equipment do you deem ‘not on the curriculum’? As a non-PE specialist?

@Gazelda Not prickly at all. Just doing other things and surprised this thread has been revived. If I decide to ask the head I’ll probably run it by my fellow PTA member to ask for their input.

@Feenie I’m not 100% comfortable divulging exact details as I know some staff could be floating around on this site but I do have a feeling that whatever I’d say, you’d argue it anyway. Thanks for your input though.

The budget for a primary school won’t be that granular for you to be able to identify a specific transaction. Submit an request under the Freedom of Information Act.

My point is that you wouldn’t necessarily know what was suitable or not. I am intrigued!

Skis?

Fencing?

I actually know a local Primary that does fencing, so scrub that.

Jousting poles?

@RobinPenguins Thank you.

@Feenie I’m sorry I can’t satisfy your curiosity for details but both of those I’d be more than happy with. 😉

Really? Because I think you’d have a fair point of every child had their own individual set of skis in this climate.

Hammers for the hammer throw?

@Feenie Yeah, let’s face it, it’s far more worthwhile than what they’ve bought.

Yoyos?

@Feenie Oh god no.
That would be way more fun. Keep trying

I do have some sympathy with your question @Fangsalot89 but I don't understand why you haven't politely asked the HT why, when parents are being asked to fund basics, the school has been able to afford a polo ponyfor each child [insert other unnecessary item]is

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair 🤣
I will email the HT but probably not till September now as I’ll let them have the well deserved summer break! ☺️

[quote Fangsalot89]@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair 🤣
I will email the HT but probably not till September now as I’ll let them have the well deserved summer break! ☺️[/quote]
You started the thread 10 days ago, if you'd done it then we wouldn't still be guessing what the school have bought

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair That’s very true but you know, life gets in the way ☺️

I’m desperate know what it is 😂😂 , so many things running through my mind!
Seriously though if it’s sports premium money schools are held to account and have to show the impact of the money they spend. I think this should be on the website although probably not this year’s yet. It’s difficult to comment without detail but schools would definitely need to justify spending ( although not to you) but should be able to explain this if you ask.

@Italiandreams I feel it’s been inadvertently made into such a thing now that even if I divulged the details, it would be a monumental anticlimax 🤣
Thank you.

OP it sounds very much like they have spent the PE and Sports Premium Grant. www.gov.uk/guidance/pe-and-sport-premium-for-primary-schools

This grant can only be spent on expanding or significantly improving the PE offer. In practice, that means it can only be spent on new things, not replacements. You can spend it on e.g. putting in basketball hoops and buying basketballs if the school doesn't have them. It couldn't be spent on repairing a dangerously unusable tennis court as that would be maintenance of an existing facility.

If they don't spend it, it gets clawed back.