What the latest proposal in respect of grants to fee-paying schools

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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE BY SENATOR J.L. PERCHARD

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 3rd MAY 2011

Question

Following the statement on 14th April by the Assistant Minister for Education, Sport and Culture that fee paying schools were going to lose some of their States grants and that the Education, Sport and Culture Department had managed to persuade the Council of Ministers to do this over 5 years, will the Minister inform members –

1. what the latest proposal is in respect of grants to fee-paying schools and whether this policy is supported by the Council of Ministers?
   2. what reaction, if any, has he received to his latest proposal from the Boards of Governors of Jersey College for Girls, Victoria Collage, De la Salle College, Beaulieu and FCJ?

Answer

1. Reducing the subsidy to fee paying schools is one of a range of measures the department is taking to meet agreed savings targets. This proposal is supported by the Council of Ministers and the final decision about the reduction in subsidy will be taken by the States when it debates the 2012 Business Plan in September.

The details of this proposal are set out below:

The grants payable to the secondary schools are based on a formula that takes into account the cost of educating a child in the non fee-paying secondary sector. It is proposed that for Jersey College for Girls, Victoria College, De La Salle and Beaulieu Convent the subsidy will reduce from 50% to 25% over time.

In addition, the grant to FCJ Primary School will be reduced from the current 40% level, to 25%. By doing this, the funding available to FCJ is brought into line with the financial support granted to other fee-paying primary schools, i.e. Jersey College for Girls Preparatory School, Victoria College Preparatory School, De la Salle Primary School and Beaulieu Primary School. The phasing of this reduction is proposed over four years.

As a result the overall subsidies paid will reduce as shown:

Proposed Current Final

£ £

Jersey College for Girls (inc Prep) 2,517,700 1,470,400 Victoria College (inc Prep) 2,414,300 1,381,800 Beaulieu (Primary & Secondary) 1,876,700 1,067,000 De La Salle (Primary & Secondary) 1,976,000 1,142,300 FCJ  490,400 314,200

9,275,100 5,375,700

figures shown at 2011 price base

Part of this process has involved ESC working closely with all schools in order to identify a workable solution. As a result of this work and after gaining agreement from the COM, the time-scale for the reduction of grant has been extended to five years, instead of the three years initially proposed under the CSR process, to minimise the impact on parents.

Financial assistance will be provided to each school to help them deliver efficiency savings and support parents who may find it difficult to pay the extra fees over the transition period.

The current proposal allows fee increases to be managed within generally acceptable levels.

The table attached at Appendix 1 shows fee increases over the past ten years.

Finally,  the subsidies  currently  payable  to  St George's  Preparatory  School  and  St Michael's Preparatory School are to cease and arrangements are being made with each school to ensure that the phasing for the removal of the grant reflects their particular circumstances.

2. In their reactions to the proposals, schools and their Boards of Governors have recognised the need for the States to reduce overall expenditure and have cooperated fully with the department in finding a workable solution to deliver the subsidy reductions.

I have listened to all concerns and together we have found a solution that not only allows

the savings to be achieved but more importantly will secure the long-term viability of each school.

I am confident this proposal offers a reasonable way forward that takes into account the

circumstances of individual schools. All Boards of Governors have confirmed they are prepared to work with the Education, Sport and Culture Department in implementing the proposed changes.

Appendix 1: Table showing school fee increases over the past 10 years

Jersey College for

JCG Prep  Girls  VC Prep  Victoria College  Beaulieu  De La Salle  FCJ

Annual  Annual  Annual  Annual  Annual  Annual  Annual

Fee  Increase  Fee  Increase  Fee  Increase  Fee  Increase  Fee  Increase  Fee  Increase  Fee  Increase

£ %  £  %  £  %  £  %  £  %  £  %  £  %

Sep 2000  2,070    2,250    2,223    2,421    2,460    2,460    1,860  

Sep 2001  2,310  11.6%  2,364  5.1%  2,478  11.5%  2,664  10.0%  2,730  11.0%  2,730  11.0%  1,965  5.6% Sep 2002  2,475  7.1%  2,655  12.3%  2,730  10.2%  2,931  10.0%  2,970  8.8%  2,970  8.8%  2,070  5.3% Sep 2003  2,655  7.3%  2,985  12.4%  3,084  13.0%  3,252  11.0%  3,147  6.0%  3,180  7.1%  2,220  7.2% Sep 2004  2,925  10.2%  3,210  7.5%  3,420  10.9%  3,480  7.0%  3,330  5.8%  3,330  4.7%  2,310  4.1% Sep 2005  3,075  5.1%  3,360  4.7%  3,600  5.3%  3,600  3.4%  3,525  5.9%  3,525  5.9%  2,430  5.2% Sep 2006  3,180  3.4%  3,441  2.4%  3,690  2.5%  3,690  2.5%  3,630  3.0%  3,630  3.0%  2,550  4.9% Sep 2007  3,300  3.8%  3,525  2.4%  3,780  2.4%  3,780  2.4%  3,849  6.0%  3,825  5.4%  2,640  3.5% Sep 2008  3,522  6.7%  3,765  6.8%  3,975  5.2%  3,975  5.2%  4,080  6.0%  4,080  6.7%  2,820  6.8% Sep 2009  3,612  2.6%  3,858  2.5%  4,074  2.5%  4,074  2.5%  4,326  6.0%  4,242  4.0%  3,000  6.4% Sep 2010  3,684  2.0%  4,020  4.2%  4,194  2.9%  4,194  2.9%  4,587  6.0%  4,494  5.9%  3,180  6.0% Sep 2011  3,831  4.0%  4,263  6.0%  4,320  3.0%  4,446  6.0%  4,860  6.0%  TBC  3,375  6.1%