Barnet primary, secondary and special schools and maintained nurseries are due to receive net windfalls of around £17,000 each for the next two years following a decision at Barnet Council.

The money has become available because Barnet Council Pension Fund, into which local authority maintained school support staff across the borough pay, is doing well and is currently funded at 127 per cent required levels.

Barnet Council’s Pension Committee has agreed to give relevant Barnet schools an ‘easement’ for two years. On average schools can pay £17,000 less each year for the next two years in employers’ pension contributions, releasing funds for other purposes. The actual windfall for each institution will depend on how many of their support staff employees pay into the Barnet Council pension fund.

The Pension Committee finalised the move at its Thursday 1 February meeting.

Reverend Robin Sims Williams, Chair of governors of All Saints School in Child’s Hill, said: “It’s been a really tough few years for schools given how restricted government funds are. This boost will make a real difference to schools like ours.”

Chair of the Pension Committee, Cllr Simon Radford, said: “Our school governors, teachers, administrators and support staff have worked so hard for us all in recent years.

“We were delighted to be able to give something back to these absolute heroes.”

Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, Cllr Pauline Coakley-Webb, said: “At a time when all public services are cash-strapped, we must find ways to help each other. I am delighted Barnet Council is supporting our local schools in this way.”

The following Barnet schools and maintained nurseries will benefit from the additional funding