How are C of E Schools funded?

[Bea36]

Can someone clarify to me how C of E Schools get their funding? I assume that they receive extra money/support from the church? Therefore are in a better position with regards to funding and viability than a school that isnt a church school?

My understanding is that they get the normal funding from the state, and no extra from the Church. But the property is owned by the Church (always causes an issue if the school becomes part of an Academy Trust) and they should have a link to the local church and will have a foundation Governor.

Oh ok. I take it the church would be responsible for paying for the general upkeep of the buildings/grounds etc though?

No unfortunately

It depends on the school.

If it’s a voluntary aided school, then the church is responsible for 10 of the upkeep of the costs of the buildings. Everything else comes from normal state funding.
If it’s voluntary controlled, then all the funding comes from the state.

If they convert to an academy, I think all the funding comes from the state, but I’m not sure 100% on that one.

I have just become a Governor for a group of schools in an Academy that include a CofE school and I haven't seen any additional funding (unfortunately!)

My DC school is a very small C of E which have had to make serious cuts to staff and lunchtime staff. I was hoping it may receive extra help from the church.bt is in a federation.

Governor of C of E school here. No extra funding! Ours was a VC and now an academy (standalone). C of E means double inspections and representation on Governing Body, as well as interference support from the church in the running of the school, particularly as regards collective worship and the RE curriculum.

I'm guessing you are not the Foundation Governor Piggy

Haha . Nope!

To be fair, they are mainly lovely, but our particular school has two churches linked to it and nearly every governor attends one or the other. There was a mahoosive falling out over writing a prayer at one point, which was awkward. But the general ethos is very pro learning and children's development so on the whole it's a nice place to be a governor!

No extra funding and they may have additional costs to pay to the diocese as well.

I think even within the VA CoE schools there’s variety between dioceses. I think ours is quite generous when it comes to building projects - so the school only has to raise a small amount of money for building projects like new classrooms and then the diocese funds the rest. Means the school budget can then be spent on teachers and stuff rather than new windows / leaky roof etc