I read with interest Peter Coles’ comments on the calculation of the school meal grant in Hampshire (TES, October 21). Devon is claiming a 66 per cent reduction in cost over two years - without any increase in price, reduction in the number of staff employed, or drop in the quality of the product. Isn’t that even more surprising and do not both examples indicate clearly the problem with local management as a means of funding?
The sooner we move via a common funding formula to a truly national formula, with adequate measures for convergence over a period of time, the better.
D MEIKLE
Chairman of governors
Colyton Grammar School
Colyford
Colyton, Devon
