Three Christian schools in Bristol have voted against extra funding for kids with additional needs, sparking a debate on education support.
Bristol City Council plans to distribute an extra £5 million to schools. The idea is to help those with more children needing support. Schools had two options for how to share this money.
The first option was simple. It would give funds based on the number of students. The second option aimed to help disadvantaged kids more. A meeting on January 15 decided which way to go.
Vik Verma, the council’s education director, shared his thoughts. He believes the second option is better for kids who need it most. It’s not just about the money; it’s about helping kids succeed.
In the end, three schools voted for the first option. Eleven chose the second. The schools that voted against were St Bernadette’s, St Bede’s, and St John’s.
Merche Clark, a governor at St John’s, explained the situation. She said there isn’t much difference between the two options. The current funding formula already helps schools with more disadvantaged kids.
She added that while option two helps more schools, some still get very little per student. It’s a tricky balance, and the debate continues on how to best support all students.
