NASUWT Representatives

www.nasuwt.org.uk35Local Management of Schools (LMS) formula for distribution.ACTION POINT: This information should be requested from theemployer at this stage. The NASUWT Representative will wantto be alerted at the earliest possible stage to cuts orrestructuring proposals that affect members. The teachergovernor may help obtain this information. Any potentialproblems should be reported immediately to the LocalAssociation Secretary.By the end of March, the governors will be informed by the LAof the actual budget share the school will receive. This figureshould approximate the ‘indicative budget share’ governorsreceived in December/January. Sometimes, the actual figurediffers significantly from the indicative figure and it is possiblethat it will be lower. This may be caused by LAs not receiving thefunding expected from government. This is also why March isoften a time of crisis within some LAs and schools.Once governors/employers know exactly how much moneythey have to spend, they will make final adjustments to theirdraft budget or, in the ‘crisis’ scenario, look for substantialsavings. This is a dangerous time for many teachers asshedding teaching staff can be seen as the easiest way ofmaking significant savings. Multi-year funding is intended tointroduce more stability, but Representatives should be alert tothe balances held by the school, particularly those in deficit.ACTION POINT: The NASUWT Representative should alert theLocal Association Secretary to any potential difficulties at theearliest opportunity and seek advice.You should also consult/inform and involve NASUWT membersat an early stage in order to seek a negotiating mandate andgauge opinion within the school/college.By April, the beginning of the financial year, the governors willhave finalised and submitted their projected budget. They willalso be collating the figures for their actual expenditure duringthe preceding year in preparation for the outturn statement.ACTION POINT: You should obtain a copy of the final budgetplan and consult members on all the relevant issues.In June, the governors will be in possession of additionalinformation with budgetary implications: they will know whichmembers of staff are leaving at the end of the school year andwhich need to be replaced. If senior or experienced staff areleaving and are either not replaced or replaced by youngerteachers, this represents a potential budget saving and extramoney can be spent elsewhere.ACTION POINT: The NASUWT Representative needs to beparticularly alert at this time. Proposed or actual reductions inteaching staff without a corresponding reduction in pupilFor advice and help ˚ Local Association ˚ Regional Centre ˚ National Executive