We provide this funding to all 95 primary, intermediate and secondary schools in our area so school students are supported to achieve their potential.
The decile system has been phased out now and the Ministry of Education has implemented a new Equity Index (EQI).
The 2024 PDF allocation has been based on the EQI ratings and will continue to be based on EQI ratings moving forward.
The fund is made up of three parts:
Part A - Responding to student financial hardship
Enables students experiencing financial hardship to participate in school activities.
Part B - Student participation & achievement
Supports schools to raise student achievement, address inequalities and/or reduce barriers to participation across specific education, sport, art and culture priorities of the Trust.
Part C - Reducing isolation
Enables schools and students in isolated areas to have equity of opportunity to take part in educational, sporting and cultural opportunities.
Total Fund: $600,000 per annum
For a Quick Guide that you can download and print click here.
If you have any questions about this fund ring 0800 500 185 or email ngaire@communitytrustsouth.nz
Principals Discretionary Fund - Snapshot
Visit Our Insights to view our Principals Discretionary Fund Snapshot which highlights the activities funded, the number of students benefiting and outcomes achieved from this Fund.
Can you apply?
All primary, intermediate and secondary schools in the Southland, Queenstown, Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Tapanui and Heriot areas, registered with the Ministry of Education, can receive this funding.
Funding is, however, not available to homeschooled students.
What we fund
Principals have the discretion to use this funding based on the following guidelines.
Part A - Responding to student financial hardship
Part A allocation is based on each school’s roll, coupled with a graduated decile weighting i.e. the lower the decile rating, the higher the weighting.
Can be used towards resources and/or extracurricular activities (not normally considered payable from schools’ operational funding) for students whose family financial circumstances may prevent them from participating. Examples include:
- supporting involvement in curricular activities, such as out of classroom education (school camps or trips)
- paying fees where no other financial assistance exists, so that a student may gain appropriate academic qualifications
- providing essential support equipment where there is no other funding available e.g. personal items such as reading glasses, sports equipment to enable them to participate in a school team
- paying for school uniforms, stationery, meals for a student etc.
Part B - Student participation & achievement
Part B allocation is weighted slightly towards year 1-8 students, and then allocated based on each school’s roll, plus a partial decile influence.
Can be used for activities that align with at least one of our following granting priorities:
Education
- raising the achievement of identified under-achieving year 1-8 students, but may also be used to raise the achievement of identified under-achieving year 9-13 students
- addressing issues of inequality that present barriers to learning and participating
- supporting students identified by their school as being at risk of disengaging
- the preparation of students for life after their schooling, with a focus on; life skills and financial literacy, careers education, effective transitions/pathways and linkages between education and industry.
Active Lifestyles
- provide grassroots support for life-long active participation and engagement with a focus on:
- year 1-8 students (but also able to be used to support year 9-13 students)
- coaching and volunteering
- inactive people and those experiencing barriers to participation.
Arts, Heritage and Culture
- grow and develop emerging artists, creatives and leaders
- support whanau, hapū, Iwi, Māori communities' aspirations and the protection, preservation and expression of Māori culture identity, arts and taonga
- recognise and celebrate culture diversity
- more diverse opportunities for all to understand. access and engage with heritage, our taonga, and in new and innovative ways.
A minimum of $1,000 in total funding (Part A & B) per school has been set, irrespective of roll number or decile rating.
Part C - Reducing isolation
Part C allocation is based on $2 per student to schools with an isolation index of 1.0 and above (based on MoE’s isolation index) and there is a minimum allocation of $500 per qualifying school.
Can be used for activities or costs that provide enhanced equity of opportunity due to the effects of a school’s isolation.
A grand total of $595,203 Principals Discretionary Funding has been approved for 2024.
For a Quick Guide that you can download and print click here
What we don't fund
Part A funding cannot be used to purchase school equipment.
Schools cannot transfer funds between Part A and Part B as each part is stand-alone funding.
How to apply
Applications are made online and early in the year
- your school will be emailed a direct link with instructions on how to access the application form
- you will then need to complete the brief online application to access your funding
- upon approval, your school will be emailed a letter each year detailing your amount of funding for Part A, B & C
Accountability reporting for your funding is due 30 November 2024. Please note that any unspent Part A or Part B allocation may be deducted from your school’s following year’s allocations.
We encourage you to use all of your allocation, if you are unable to do this please ring 0800 500 185 or email ngaire@communitytrustsouth.nz
How we calculate your funding
Funding for each school is based on your school roll as at 1 July of the previous academic year. We obtain this from the Ministry of Education.
Part A - Responding to student financial hardship
Funding of $110,000 is allocated based on your school’s decile and a per-student amount:
|
Decile |
Amount per student |
|
|
1 |
|
$10.00 |
|
2 |
|
$9.00 |
|
3 |
|
$8.00 |
|
4 |
|
$7.00 |
|
5 |
|
$6.00 |
|
6 |
|
$6.00 |
|
7 |
|
$5.00 |
|
8 |
|
$4.50 |
|
9 |
|
$4.00 |
|
10 |
|
$4.00 |
Part B - Student participation & achievement
Funding of $400,000 is allocated based on the following:
- $300,000 is apportioned based on your school’s Year 1 – 8 roll and decile rating
- $100,000 is apportioned based on your school’s Year 9 – 15 roll and decile rating
Part C - Reducing isolation
Funding is based on $2.00 per student for schools with an isolation index of 1.0 and above, with the isolation factor being based on the Ministry of Education’s Isolation Index.
Celebrating our
culture and heritage
