Cumulative dive in public funding now tops 12pc since 2004
The English Schools Foundation has warned that fee increases could result from a government cut in its subvention by 2.8 per cent in the coming financial year, amounting to a cumulative cut in public funding of more than 12 per cent since 2004.
Heather Du Quesnay, ESF chief executive, confirmed that an increase was being considered. 'We have to be sensible and plan for the future of the ESF to offer high standards of education,' she said. 'The ESF has not been planning for the future. There is an enormous back-log in improvements for schools in general, as well as the big projects.'
Adequate funding was also needed to upgrade business systems and for professional development and support for teachers.
Management would take soundings from its executive before announcing the increase. The ESF would, however, need to remain affordable for the broad constituency of its parents, she said.
The Education and Manpower Bureau had assured the ESF that the cut in government grant, from $272.6 million to $264.7 million, had nothing to do with the future of its subvention but was in line with 'efficiency savings' to help balance its budget. Ms Du Quesnay added: 'We are not planning against loss of the subvention.'