EXTRA funding is set to be injected into the Oakfield Project in hope of securing its long-term future in the town.

Prominent figures in education came together at the Schools Forum meeting last week where they presided over options to fill a deficit in funding.

The Oakfield project has been a Key Stage 4 pre-exclusion setting which has provided for between 30 to 35 pupils at risk of exclusion.

The Schools Forum heard how the current deficit in the budget is £120,000 per year in terms of income received against service running costs.

The Oakfield Project was due to close in 2010 as the local authority felt it could no longer run the provision on financial grounds. At the time though, secondary schools felt that it should continue and took over the management of the project in the belief that they could reduce costs and still run it effectively.

Since September, the local authority took control of the management of Oakfield and a management committee has been put in place.

At the Schools Forum, head of education Peter Nathan presented a number of options including investing more funding or closing the project all together to fill the deficit.

Coun Fionuala Foley, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and School Attainment, said: “We are really pleased the Schools Forum agreed to support the additional funding for the Oakfield Project, which provides education in a school environment for between 30 and 35 pupils who are at risk of permanent exclusion.

“The additional funding for Oakfield will be found from the Council's High Needs budget, which provides grants to fund specialised education projects. A further report on the future funding of Oakfield will be presented to the Schools Forum next May.”