Treasury and Resources
Ministerial Decision Report
Victoria College and Victoria College Preparatory School - Increase in school fees for the academic year 2016-2017
- Purpose of Report
To enable the Minister for Treasury and Resources to approve the fees for the 2016-17 academic year proposed by the governing body of Victoria College and Victoria College Preparatory School.
- Background
Article 13a of the Education (Jersey) Law 1999 requires that: “Each year, subject to the approval of the Minister, the governing body for Victoria College and Victoria College Preparatory School shall set fees for the provision of education in each of those schools”.
Further to decisions of the schools governing body the approval of the Minister for Education has been sought for an increase in respect of the academic year 2016-2017, as follows:
School | 2016-2017 Request (per term) | 2015-2016 Approved (per term) | % increase |
Victoria College | £1,770 | £1,701 | 4.06% |
Victoria College Preparatory | £1,756 | £1,688 | 4.03% |
The justification for the increase in fees was set out in a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Governors Finance and Premises Committee to the Minister for Education dated 8th March 2016 and a subsequent meeting with the Minister for Education on 21st March 2016, specifically:
- Continued investment in teaching staff, resources and standards, curriculum development and the student support team;
- The current States Employment Board pay award of 1% for the financial year 2016, although this has yet to be agreed;
- The culmination of the property occupancy charge which was introduced in 2011 at £40,000 per annum. This charge has increased to £240,000 per annum over the six years to 2016;
- Support of the Foundation Lifelong Learning initiative and the evolving role of the Foundation within the College community;
- Capital investment required to continue improvements to the infrastructure of both schools, in particular a new extension to the Le Brocq building to provide a minimum of 2 additional classrooms to replace old porta cabins currently in use on College Field.
The Jersey Retail Price Index increased by 0.9% in the 12 months to 31 December 2015.
A summary of fee increases over the past three years is as follows:
2015
School | 2015-2016 (per term) | 2014-2015 (per term) | % increase |
Victoria College | £1,701 | £1,612 | 5.52% |
Victoria College Preparatory | £1,688 | £1,600 | 5.50% |
In 2015, additional fee income was used to support the development of a variety of areas across the College. A transfer was made from capital to fund the completion of the 5 house rooms’ project and the refurbishment of the drama and maths areas. Staffing resources were increased with the addition of a French teacher, special educational needs co-ordinator and admin support. Fee increases were also used to fund the property occupancy charge, the Foundation, I.T investment and to provide additional classroom resources.
2014
School | 2014-2015 (per term) | 2013-2014 (per term) | % increase |
Victoria College (“VC”) | £1,612 | £1,528 | 5.50% |
Victoria College Preparatory (“VCP”) | £1,600 | £1,517 | 5.47% |
Additional fee income in 2014 was used to fund the States Employment Board pay award of 4%, the property occupancy charge and a transfer to capital for essential projects including the conversion and refurbishment of the 5 house rooms’ and the completion of the lower science block and the sixth form centre.
2013
School | 2013-2014 (per term) | 2012-2013 (per term) | % increase |
Victoria College (“VC”) | £1,430 | £1,395 | 2.51% |
Victoria College Preparatory (“VCP”) | £1,356 | £1,307 | 3.75% |
Additional fee income in 2014 was used to fund the States Employment Board pay award of 1%, the property occupancy charge and a transfer to capital to fund the commencement of project work on the lower science block and sixth form centre. VCP also transferred funds to capital to buy a new maintenance vehicle.
Section 5.2 of Financial Direction 4.1 “Increases in States Fees and Charges” states: “The Anti-Inflation Strategy states that increases in States fees and charges should be limited to 2.5% per annum with compelling cases to be subject to the prior approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources (previously the Finance and Economics Committee)”.
- Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve the fee increases set out by the governing body for
Victoria College and Victoria College Preparatory School as follows:
- VC increase of 4.06% to £1,770 per term
- VCP increase of 4.03% to £1,756 per term
- Reason for Decision
To meet the requirements of Financial Direction 4.1 “Increases in States Fees and Charges”. Paragraph 5.2 states: “The Anti-Inflation Strategy states that increases in States fees and charges should be limited to 2.5% per annum with compelling cases to be subject to the prior approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources (previously the Finance and Economics Committee)”.
A decision to increase the VC and VCP school fees for the academic year 2016-2017 was signed by the Minister for Education (MD-ESC-2016-0014) on 18th April 2016.
- Resource Implications
The fee increase for VC is forecast to result in additional income of £48,000 for 2016 and £147,000 for 2017 (based on an indicative fee increase of 2.54% for 2017-18). The fee increase for VCP is forecast to result in additional income of £19,000 for 2016 and £56,000 for 2017 (based on an indicative fee increase of 2.45% for 2017-18).
Report author : Finance Manager | Document date 22nd April 2016 |
Quality Assurance / Review : Head of Decision Support | File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DS, WR and SD\2016-00xx - VC & VCP Fees Increase |
MD sponsor : |
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