Headteachers slam £285k special needs review

Gloucestershire headteachers have criticised a council plan to spend £285,000 on a review of special needs education in the county.

The decision to go ahead with the review was made by the Gloucestershire Schools Forum, reports the Gloucestershire Echo.

A consultant will be hired at the cost of £100,000 while the same amount will be spent on implementing the findings of the report.

The remaining £85,000 will go towards developing a new curriculum.
Mary Saunders, head of Bettridge School in Cheltenham, told the newspaper: "This is an enormous amount of money to spend on consultancy in a matter of months.

"This is taxpayers' money and it should be going to the children."
Clare Steel, head of Alderman Knight school in Tewkesbury, also expressed concern about the amount of money being spent.

However, councillor Jackie Hall defended the move saying the money came from a government rather than local budget and would benefit special needs children.

There are currently 12 special needs schools under the control of Gloucestershire county council.




Published On 22/05/2009