About the fund

The Governors' Fund is a pool of assets controlled by the school governors and raised from voluntary sources, primarily the parents.  It is operated entirely independent of the SMSA's funding raising activities; the assets are not co-mingled.

The Fund exists to provide a safety net to cover funding shortfalls for what we consider to be essential spending on school infrastructure.  We are blessed with exceptional facilities that will only remain exceptional if they are well maintained.  However, St. Michael’s is a Voluntary Aided school, and our premises are owned by the Church of England; the Local Education Authority does not fund building repairs and improvements.  Indeed, when you accept a place at the school you are making a commitment to support the school in a manner that you feel is appropriate given the school's Voluntary Aided status.

The significance of the Fund on school life is starkly illustrated by this chart:

The funding shortfall is the difference between the school's total spend and and state-provided sources of income, primarily from the LEA but also from the school's own reserves (shown as a budget deficit).  In 2007-08 this shortfall was entirely covered by donations from the Governors' Fund (£99,300) and the SMSA (£45,500), and these donations effectively paid for all of the spending on classroom resources (books, pencils, paper, etc).

How to donate