Grants confusion 'costs schools'

Grants for schools and colleges are confusing, according to AMs

Welsh schools and colleges are missing out on thousands of pounds in grants, according to an assembly committee.

The finance committee investigating the grants system for schools found it confusing and bureaucratic.

It said schools had no clear idea how much was on offer or how to apply for the money. The committee's chair called the system "a complete mess".

The Welsh Assembly Government said it welcomed the committee's decision to examine grants and would respond later.

The committee said the system was far too complex.

Examples of grants that could be on offer are for school uniforms, the ethnic minority achievement grant and the assembly government's programme targeting disadvantaged pupils.

In order to get a £5,000 grant they have to jump through more hoops than they would have to for their £16m a year Angela Burns AM, committee chair

The committee members tried to find out how many grants could be provided by the assembly government and received responses that ranged from 19 to over 100.

They were particularly concerned because they said even the assembly government could not provide an accurate figure.

The committee's inquiry began in January with a range of schools and colleges across Wales giving evidence.

"There are complaints about every aspect of such grants - from a lack of information on what is available to the paperwork involved in applying for them," said the chair of the committee, Conservative AM Angela Burns.

She told BBC Wales: "Nobody knows how many grants are available, nobody knows how many come from the minister for education and how many come from other departments within the Welsh Assembly Government.

"For example, social services might have a grant that goes via education to help a particular need.

"It's a complete mess to be honest."

She added: "It's a nonsense when you think you have someone running for example a further education college and is responsible for £16m worth of budget a year and yet in order to get a £5,000 grant they have to jump through more hoops than they would have to for their £16m a year."

The assembly members said they were also concerned some local authorities were taking money for administration from the grants meant for schools.

They recommended that:

• The assembly government should publish a list of grants for schools.

• There should be clear information on how much is available and how to apply for them.

• Local authorities should publish a list of grants received in a year, the amount awarded to each school, and how much has been retained for administration.

• A small grant scheme should be introduced to speed up the process of obtaining money for relatively minor projects.

The Welsh Assembly Government said: "We welcome the committee's decision to look at this important area. We've just received the report and will be responding in due course."