Minister defends halving schools IT grant

Nick Gibb said in a parliamentary written answer that while the Department for Education recognises that technology can help deliver "improvements in attainment", it believes schools should be the final decision makers on ICT implementation. Gibb told Labour MP Jenny Chapman on 26 July 2010 that he was certain ICT infrastructure is now so "well embedded" in schools, the planned 50% cut to the grant would not affect attainment in education. "We believe that technology, combined with good teaching, will continue to help to improve levels of attainment. We have made it clear however, that we want schools and local authorities to take their own decisions on the best use of technology in their particular circumstances," he said. Earlier this month, education secretary Michael Gove wrote a letter to senior local government employees detailing plans to reduce £100m worth of funding for the harnessing technology grant to enable "a more sustainable funding model". As part of the DfE's plan to save £1bn from its capital budget in 2010-11, Gove said funding for other schemes will also be reduced or stopped. This includes cutting a £15m capital grant for local social care IT and reductions to the £24m co-location project, which supports increased integration within children's services.