‘Confusing’ grants system means schools are missing out
Welsh schools and colleges are missing out on thousands of pounds in grants to improve education because of confusion over how much is available and how to apply for them.
An inquiry by the National Assembly for Wales' Finance Committee also found that there is too much red tape and bureaucracy slowing the process down.
The report on specific education grants criticises the Welsh government for a system that is too complex and bureaucratic and out of proportion for the sums of money involved.
Committee Chair Angela Burns AM said: "Committee members receive endless complaints from schools and colleges about the specific grants that are on offer. 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.”
The committee also noted how difficult it is to draw up a list of all of the grants that are available. There was concern that some local authorities were taking grants meant for schools and colleges instead for administration, and it is not always clear how much and what for.
The committee also criticised the complicated auditing system institutions had to go through to justify relatively small grants, having already been audited for managing multi-million pound budgets.
Angela Burns AM said: "One of the discouraging aspects of this inquiry is the discovery that the existing ‘rules’ are not being followed. What the Committee has done is review the current position and identify a few simple actions that the Government and local authorities could take, which could make life a lot simpler for schools and colleges”
Among other recommendations made to the Welsh government by the Finance Committee are:
The Welsh government should publish a list of all hypothecated grants for schools and colleges with clear information on how much is available and how to apply for them.
Local authorities should publish a list of all grants received in a year and the amounts awarded to each school and college. Details of any money retained for administration purposes should also be published.
A ‘small grant’ scheme should be introduced to speed up the process of obtaining money for relatively minor projects.