IN the last two weeks both the Government and the Opposition have made statements about the money spent by Local Education Authorities (LEAs). Though saying different things, they both imply that LEAs spend a lot on red tape at the expense of children.
As far as North Yorkshire County Council is concerned, they are wrong. The DfEE's own figures confirm we spend just £33 per pupil on central administration - that's 1.2 per cent of budget. All the rest of the council's budget for education goes direct to schools or is spent on services for children such as special educational needs and home-to-school transport.
In its inspection report last month, OFSTED confirmed that the council actually makes things better for schools and children - and does so at very low cost. They concluded North Yorkshire "strives to achieve excellence in all that it does." At £33 per pupil, that's got to be very good value for money.
John Dennis,
Chairman, Education and Library Services Committee,
North Yorkshire County Council,
County Hall, Northallerton.
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