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Education funding overhaul plan Education funding overhaul plan
(about 2 hours later)
A major independent review into how funding in Wales is allocated to schools, colleges and universities is to be carried out.A major independent review into how funding in Wales is allocated to schools, colleges and universities is to be carried out.
Education Minister Leighton Andrews said the assembly government wanted to ensure money reaches the "front line".Education Minister Leighton Andrews said the assembly government wanted to ensure money reaches the "front line".
The experts' review, will look into how savings can be made and how resources would most benefit pupils and teachers.The experts' review, will look into how savings can be made and how resources would most benefit pupils and teachers.
Mr Andrews, who became the minister last month, said it was important to "reduce bureaucracy" in the system.Mr Andrews, who became the minister last month, said it was important to "reduce bureaucracy" in the system.
"I want to see more funding going to schools, colleges and universities," said Mr Andrews, who took the role from Jane Hutt when Carwyn Jones became first minister in December."I want to see more funding going to schools, colleges and universities," said Mr Andrews, who took the role from Jane Hutt when Carwyn Jones became first minister in December.
I believe we can do things more smartly and simply in Wales Education Minister Leighton AndrewsI believe we can do things more smartly and simply in Wales Education Minister Leighton Andrews
"To achieve this we must review the real cost of administering education across Wales."To achieve this we must review the real cost of administering education across Wales.
"It is imperative that we reduce the bureaucracy and streamline the education system to make it lean and effective to benefit our learners."It is imperative that we reduce the bureaucracy and streamline the education system to make it lean and effective to benefit our learners.
"I believe we can do things more smartly and simply in Wales."I believe we can do things more smartly and simply in Wales.
"We need to make sure we make the best use of the resources available to us."We need to make sure we make the best use of the resources available to us.
"Major performance improvement and better efficiency from our education providers is the key to us getting more funding to the front line.""Major performance improvement and better efficiency from our education providers is the key to us getting more funding to the front line."
Anna Brychan, from the National Association of Headteachers in Wales, welcomed the initiative if it helped pinpoint the costs of school administration.
She said: "There is a variety of practice in local authorities. We don't really know quite why or for what reason or whether that's justified or whether we can re-focus it on the front line and use it more effectively there. Our feeling is that we could."
'Difficulties'
Ms Brychan said the association did not expect the review to meet all the assembly government's education commitments, such as closing the gap in spending per pupil with that in England.
She said: "It is difficult to imagine that "re-focusing" would address all of those difficulties for schools but certainly we welcome the effort to try and find some additional cash and use it better."
First Minister Carwyn Jones made a commitment in his manifesto during the Welsh Labour leadership campaign to refocus educational investment.First Minister Carwyn Jones made a commitment in his manifesto during the Welsh Labour leadership campaign to refocus educational investment.
The review will be conducted in two stages by external consultants with experience and expertise in education to ensure "complete objectivity and impartiality".The review will be conducted in two stages by external consultants with experience and expertise in education to ensure "complete objectivity and impartiality".
Costs
It will begin in February, with the first stage an internal exercise looking at the costs of administering education in Wales using information collected by the assembly government.It will begin in February, with the first stage an internal exercise looking at the costs of administering education in Wales using information collected by the assembly government.
Recommendations for making savings and opportunities to move resources to front line services will be made by the end of March.Recommendations for making savings and opportunities to move resources to front line services will be made by the end of March.
A wider review of administering education across Wales will then follow.A wider review of administering education across Wales will then follow.