Penn Hall School- Wins Budget Changes

"I am pleased that the case I made for Penn Hall School has been accepted by the Authorities" said Councillor Phil Bateman today. "I am reliably informed that Penn Hall School will now receive 'site specific' funding for their residential hostel.

The financial arrangements will be well received by the school and the parents.

Read the case that was made below. This original article was posted on the 15th January,"

Councillor Phil Bateman today threw his support behind Penn Hall School and their request for the Residential Hostel that they currently operate to be funded from allocation via the site- specific element of the schools budget process. Currently for 2003/2004 this is not the case.


He said "I have long been impressed by the work of this very special school.
Every single citizen in Wolverhampton should be aware of the immense success that this school has had by educating and providing for pupils and students who have very challenging physical and educational needs.

The school has identified that it is bearing the £75,000 costs for the residential hostel and is asking for the City Councils support in providing for the development and funding of the project during the coming 2004/5 budget process.

I am today publicly backing their call that this development is funded as a site-specific element in the budget making process, as would a swimming pool is on a normal school site.
At the moment this is not happening, and though the school is good at raising funds from other sources, this important facility falls outside the funding mechanism. This to my mind is patently wrong.

It’s a great school and needs as much help as it can, it provides for pupils from Wednesfield as well as other areas of the City, and from surrounding areas outside of Wolverhampton.

The reputation that Penn Hall School has built up over 30 years is to the great benefit of the City. No one is arguing that it is not already a well-resourced school, and that is a testimony to the way that the City has cared for the schools development over the years. I certainly recognise that the City Council as the Education Authority has provided for the development of the school and has helped it towards the reputation it is now achieving. I am sure that the school governors will recognise this also.

But we do need to recognise that the way that the current budget is being made is potentially detrimental to the development of the school and is seen to be a little unfair in its recognition of the residential hostel.

I accept that the reinstatement of the Residential budget may be difficult to accommodate. But the Governors and Staff at the school have informed me that the financial health of the school, it’s future development and the on going attainment of the children will be adversely affected if the hostel facility is not supported.

• The school currently has 80 pupils
• All pupils at the school have a physical disability
• Seven pupils at the school come from Wednesfield
• There are 20% of pupils with visual impairment
• 5% of pupils have a hearing impairment
• 70% pupils require support for speech & language
• 90% of pupils have mobility difficulties
• 72% have cerebral palsy
• 85% of pupils depend on the use of a wheelchair, buggy or bicycle for mobility

The three successive OfSTED Inspections since 1993 have fully recognised the schools success in making learning an enjoyable and challenging experience. Success at both Regional and National competitions fully demonstrate the school’s commitment to the principle of “access for all“.