‘It is concerning that we have a bidding system in place for essential maintenance work that is necessary to protect our children in school’.

Councillor Oscar Ford Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, today writes in the Havering Daily.

I was interested to read the article of 23 May about the Academies in the Upminster and Hornchurch constituency that had been successful in their bids for funding ‘to improve their facilities’ via the Governments Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). As Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, I will always support opportunities to improve our school buildings and environment, whether they are Academies or Council Maintained facilities. The CIF involves a bidding process and Local Authority Maintained schools are excluded from this provision. 

In the article, Julia Lopez MP did not include the other Havering schools with successful bids so I’ll mention my old Junior school at Rise Park which has been granted funds for ‘Urgent Water Quality Improvements’ along with the Rise Park Infants School which will receive funding for ‘Fire Safety and Electrical Improvements’.  

I do find it concerning however that we have a bidding system in place for what might be considered basic and essential maintenance work, that which is necessary to protect our children in school.

Even more worrying might be the number of unsuccessful applications. Of the 4,547 academies, sixth-form colleges, and voluntary-aided schools eligible to apply from across the country to CIF 2023 to 2024, some 2,076 applied for 3,061 projects. However, CIF 2023 to 2024 will provide funding of £456 million for just 1,033 of those projects at 859 academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided schools. Presumably leaving 1,217 establishments with 2,028 projects having to look elsewhere for funding or waiting another year to cover the costs for their important works. And this does not include the Local Authority maintained schools who are excluded from bidding.

Therefore, there needs to be a level playing field when it comes to essential health and safety works, and we need to ensure that there is parity of funding for all schools, irrespective of the classification they come under.

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