Harnessing Tech Grant - Is this still available?

[bodminman]

I asked finance this yesterday and they didn't have a clue!

 

So if anyone could give me any info that'll be great.

 

Cheers

[witch]

Nothing concrete but both my schools have been told by the LA that the grant is disappearing next year

[bodminman]

Is there a particular dept at the LEA I should ask to speak to to see if what's going on if anything?

[PiqueABoo]

Talk to a Head? They should have been told all about this by now. Are you connected to some kind of Grid/RBC? They are the most likely folk to have been doing the telling, so ask them or look for documents about it if there's some kind of intranet/portal.

[localzuk]

Speak to your bursar/business manager - they should know details of the grants the school gets/is getting. Our head would be more than unlikely to know this sort of thing!

[tech_guy]

We've been told it's being significantly reduced this year then disappearing altogether.

 

Previous thread:

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/58489-govt-claw-back-25-2010-11-harnessing-technology-grants.html

Edited February 4, 2011 by tech_guy

[bodminman]

Talk to a Head? They should have been told all about this by now. Are you connected to some kind of Grid/RBC? They are the most likely folk to have been doing the telling, so ask them or look for documents about it if there's some kind of intranet/portal.

 

He hasn't a clue!

[bodminman]

Speak to your bursar/business manager - they should know details of the grants the school gets/is getting. Our head would be more than unlikely to know this sort of thing!

 

She's new and hasn't a clue either! Still getting to grips if ou know what I mean.

[dwhyte85]

We've been told it's being significantly reduced this year then disappearing altogether.

 

Previous thread:

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/58489-govt-claw-back-25-2010-11-harnessing-technology-grants.html

 

My current post paid for a connection upgrade, as advised by the LA as we'd only need to fund 50%... despite my concerns of it being down the list in importance... the school went ahead with it only to find they're now funding 3/4 of the bill not 1/2 - leading to a bit of a panic.

 

Ours was cut by 50% and they've been told it'll be unlikely to be around next year.

Edited February 4, 2011 by dwhyte85

[GrumbleDook]

The HT grant was cut in year by 50%. This has meant that in many LAs and schools there is nothing available now. In fact a number of LAs who have devolved the 75% they could devolve have had to ask for money back (or, in actual fact, they have just retained some of the other pots available be the corresponding amount). It was a capital grant to use for capital purchases and capital projects and since the present govt have pointed out that the capital investment in IT has been significant over the years it should not need any further capital funds.

 

This is actually true and we should consider refresh of equipment as part of the maintenance plan of the school and can easily consider it revenue.

 

And this is where this falls down. The revenue stream has not been increased by a corresponding amount. If anything other capital grants have had further cuts, partly due to the amount LAs have been allocated and partly down to the amount schools have. It gets all political and messy with the councils in between and lots of folk unhappy. Even schools going to academy status are not having a fantastic time of it and there are some across the country that had stepped back from becoming academies as a result until more long term information on funding is available.

 

There are no other planned funding streams similar to HT, and most other capital pots are having the ring-fencing removed, so no more pots that you can specify are solely IT ... so it is up to your head about what happens with it.

[bodminman]

The HT grant was cut in year by 50%. This has meant that in many LAs and schools there is nothing available now. In fact a number of LAs who have devolved the 75% they could devolve have had to ask for money back (or, in actual fact, they have just retained some of the other pots available be the corresponding amount). It was a capital grant to use for capital purchases and capital projects and since the present govt have pointed out that the capital investment in IT has been significant over the years it should not need any further capital funds.

 

This is actually true and we should consider refresh of equipment as part of the maintenance plan of the school and can easily consider it revenue.

 

And this is where this falls down. The revenue stream has not been increased by a corresponding amount. If anything other capital grants have had further cuts, partly due to the amount LAs have been allocated and partly down to the amount schools have. It gets all political and messy with the councils in between and lots of folk unhappy. Even schools going to academy status are not having a fantastic time of it and there are some across the country that had stepped back from becoming academies as a result until more long term information on funding is available.

 

There are no other planned funding streams similar to HT, and most other capital pots are having the ring-fencing removed, so no more pots that you can specify are solely IT ... so it is up to your head about what happens with it.

 

Excellent info, thanks.

[sonofsanta]

I was under the impression that 2010/11 financial year was the final year for it anyway, even before the incoming govt stripped it bare.

 

Safest assumption is that you won't get anything, I'd say.