£35,000 head teachers' conference a 'slap in the face' for Derby taxpayers
DERBY'S Tory leader has condemned a £35,000 conference for the city's head teachers at a luxury hotel as "a slap in the face for taxpayers".
Philip Hickson said that the two-day and one-night event at Hoar Cross Hotel Spa Resort, near Yoxall, could have been held for free at the city council-owned Assembly Rooms.
But Andrew Flack, the council's corporate director for children and young people, said that the training conference was value for money and would not have been as productive without an overnight stay.
The annual conference on Thursday and Friday, October 9 and 10, was attended by 104 head teachers, six members of the council's children and young people's department, and a number of speakers.
Mr Hickson said he would call for an investigation into why so much was spent on staying at the plush hotel, which boasts a spa, a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts and a croquet lawn.
He said: "My instinctive reaction is that, at a time when people are hard-pressed, having their homes repossessed and losing their jobs, this is a slap in the face for the taxpayer.
"Someone has not thought this through properly. I will be bringing it up at the next council meeting and asking that an investigation is launched."
Mr Hickson said he could not understand why a venue in Derby was not found for the conference and suggested the Assembly Rooms or even school halls as alternatives.
"Even given those numbers, they could have used the Assembly Rooms," he said. "It could have been free or at least cost-reduced or concessionary rates.
"Schools have half-term this week. Why couldn't it have been held in one of their halls?"
Mr Flack said that each head teacher paid about £320 from their school's training budget to attend the conference.
He said: "The days ran roughly from 9am to 4pm and 9am to 3.30pm. From 4pm to 6pm on the Thursday, teachers could use the facilities.
"Since we started the conferences in 2002, it's made a tremendous difference to the working relationship between heads and between heads and the authority.
"It gives a concentrated weekend for the professional development of heads in the city. If you look at the cost of other conferences we are constantly being asked to attend, this is good value for money."
Mr Flack said this was the first time Hoar Cross had been used for the conference.
He said: "In recent years, we have been using the conference centre at Eastwood Hall at a similar cost.
"The city council organises the event but it could not have gone ahead without the head teachers agreeing to spend the money."
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the national TaxPayers' Alliance, said the conference was a shocking waste of money. He said: "All available funding should go towards improving schools."
12 Comments
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by Joanne, Derbys
Monday, October 27 2008, 12:28PM
“?Comment removed.”
by Andy, Sawmills
Monday, October 27 2008, 12:26PM
“Something of a contradiction by Mr Elliott, surely the headteachers et al would argue that the conference was an effective way of spending money to improve schools, certainly compared with some conferences (I recently worked at a conference in London at the Landmark Hotel for 50 delegates and the overall cost was in excess of £120,000 for two days). I'm sure that if the DET did some digging they'd find examples of conferences / seminars / meetings held at "posh" hotels for council employees that are significantly higher than what seems a very reasonable price per head for two days and an overnight stay.”
by Joanne, Derbys
Monday, October 27 2008, 12:25PM
“I think if there's going to be a discussion about money well spent in Derby, perhaps we could remember what was allocated by the last administration on city projects?
Also is it possible this is just political point scoring?”
by Philip, Chester Green
Monday, October 27 2008, 11:39AM
“I agree with Councillor Hickson. Mr Flack has underestimated the effect of public perception relating to this issue.
Headteachers do a fantastic job of managing their complex responsibilities but they are not helped by council officers who, by their own actions, create extra administrative work for the teachers in our schools. The schools budgets are still public money,”
by Mr Bronson, belper
Monday, October 27 2008, 11:26AM
“The report is sensationlising and trying to paint an incorrect picture of Head Teachers prancing around playing tennis and croquet on £320 jolly. As Robert Parnham has pointed out its £320 well invested, most likely the Heads came away with postive ideas and thoughts on how to improve their schools and ultimately the pupils minds. Readers, please look at the bigger picture rather than what the Philip Hickson and DET want you to think.”
by Robert Parnham, South Derbyshire
Monday, October 27 2008, 11:06AM
“I also think that £320, in the scheme of things is good value. Private companies spend a fortune on conferences for staff; because it makes them more productive and gets better results. I don't think this is £320 wasted. It's £320 invested in head teachers.
Prehaps if Philip Hickson stopped trying to score cheap points on a non-issue; his party might make a bit more progress in Derby.”
by Sue, derby
Monday, October 27 2008, 10:44AM
“If the conference took place on the 9th and 10th of Oct it would not be during the headteachers holiday entitlement. I have barely enough resources in my classroom to my job properly and have to dig into my own pocket on a regular basis. That £320 could have been better spent.”
by Schopenhauer, Peckham
Monday, October 27 2008, 10:28AM
“I am not surprised to hear that these glorified clerks have been on a jolly-the money that you and I stump up deserves to be put to much better use than this-especially in the prevailing economic climate. Congratulations to Philip Hickson for spotting this one.”
by John, Derby
Monday, October 27 2008, 10:14AM
“Are there really 104 schools in Derby? It does say that 104 head teachers attended.”
by S Gration, Derby
Monday, October 27 2008, 10:05AM
“I think it is extremely disappointing to hear that taxpayers money is being used for a totally unnecessary overnight stay, especially considering the course didn't start till 9am each day and finishing by 4pm, and isn't as though people have to travel half way accross the country! This money could have been put to much better uses. It may be down to the schools to effectively manage their own budget, but when it is potentially effecting your childrens eductaion and it is your hard earned maney that is funding it, people are likely to have a strong opinion on how it is spent, and Hoar Cross Hall is a totally unnecessary luxury.”