Cuddington Croft primary underfunded?

[ConfusedMom20]

Hi everyone,
I have been speaking to one of my friends whose son goes to Cuddington Croft Primary school in cheam. I have heard that the school is struggling for funds and asks for money every week for resources. They have been very vocal about not getting enough funds and I guess it is true as GLF trust has so many schools under it. As the time is approaching near to fill the school dorms for next September, I would really appreciate some replies highlighting the current situation as school as this school is the nearest to our place.
Thanks

I don’t know the school but looked at the web site. I thought it must be a private school! Ties for the girls and those logos! Uniform doesn’t look like it comes from Tesco! Then, reading the letter from the (expensive) executive Head - the school has an indoor swimming pool. No wonder they bleat about not having money. This is frivolous. Expensive to maintain. As a parent at a state school you can ignore requests for money other then for school trips which you should pay for.

@ConfusedMom20 Look st their data on the government web site. It’s very interesting. You can search for the MAT and then the school. The attached was their latest financial summary. Look at he revenue balance they hold and the underspend! If I was a parent I’d be furious at being asked for money. Have no parents actually looked at this data!?

I agree with @TizerorFizz

Having been briefly involved with GLF, I wouldn’t choose to be so again.

Thanks @TizerorFizz for the data. I never looked at it. I am worried that if school complains about the funding, would it have enough resources for the children to support their learning and development. I really hope someone who kid goes to the school would have something different to add here.

Thanks for replying @Bluevelvetsofa , do you not recommend any of the schools under GLF?

I only know one of them and it’s not in your area and it was some time ago, but I wasn’t impressed. Things may well have changed over time. You’ll get an idea by visiting, not just that one, but others in the area. The atmosphere in a school, the impression you get of the staff and children’s experience, is as valuable as looking at the data and Ofsted.

As a parent I would never voluntarily contribute to the running costs of an Academy.

Maybe this trust should lower the leadership salaries. The CEO won't miss a few thousand of his or her near £250,000 salary.

A disgrace against when compared with Local Authority senior education/Children & Young People’s staff

https://www.glfschools.org/76/financial-information

@ConfusedMom20 This school has a lot of money it’s not spending. Look at the figures. The revenue reserve is massive. This could be allocated of course but it’s over 10% of the budget. There is no evidence it’s short of money. These MATs are overpaying staff at the top end and then asking parents for money! Don’t give it. Only pay for transport for trips and other things that are reasonable, eg charity giving, uniform etc. This school gets £99,000 from other sources I think I read. That’s big too.

Thanks @DahliaJ it is not an academy. That might be one of the reason.

According to this it is an Academy with GLF.

https://www.glfschools.org/110/our-schools-and-nurseries-1

It is an academy. The GLF Trust is a chain of academies.

Hi @ConfusedMom20 Mum of 2 Cuddington Croft kids here. I can confirm that they definitely don't ask for contributions every week! They ask for voluntary contributions towards "enrichment activities" for the children which normally involve outside companies coming in to run workshops to support the current curriculum topics. They tend to happen once a term, cost around £3-£10 and as far as I'm aware the vast majority of parents can afford to, and do pay them.

I think all schools are struggling for funds at the moment. The website mentioned above https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/ shows how much schools is spending vs. earning and spend per child which is interesting to compare, however I think there are far more important factors when choosing your child's school. For example: your feel for the school when looking around, size of school, what existing parents have to say, teaching staff and staff retention (supply staff spend is an interesting metric on the above website), performance results vs. other schools, after school clubs....

In my experience Cuddington Croft is a great primary school and I'd highly recommend. I'm not sure the comments regarding the high funds in reserve on a previous post are useful without knowing what the school intends to use their reserves for? For example, do they have a big maintenance project on the horizon ie. replacing roof or are they planning a building project.....?

Thanks I2222. I have spoken to a few fellow moms and have been assured that there isn’t a funding issue which relieves me. Thanks for replying. We have opted for the school. I hope my daughter is allocated a school that is best for her.