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| Budget pressures forcing schools in England to cut staff, survey finds | Budget pressures forcing schools in England to cut staff, survey finds |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Budget pressures are pushing more than half of schools in England towards cutting staff, with most preparing for big reductions to balance their books, according to a national survey of school leaders. | Budget pressures are pushing more than half of schools in England towards cutting staff, with most preparing for big reductions to balance their books, according to a national survey of school leaders. |
| More than a quarter of the schools surveyed by the Association of School and College Leaders and law firm Browne Jacobson said they were prepared to make cuts in teachers and support staff as a result of rising tax and pension costs colliding with the government’s freeze on school funding. The survey of more than 1,300 leaders revealed the financial difficulties they faced in managing “stagnant” budgets. | |
| “Schools face rising costs without any additional money to meet them. This is effectively a significant real-terms cut in their budgets,” said Brian Lightman, general secretary of ASCL, which represents the bulk of secondary school heads in England. | “Schools face rising costs without any additional money to meet them. This is effectively a significant real-terms cut in their budgets,” said Brian Lightman, general secretary of ASCL, which represents the bulk of secondary school heads in England. |
| “School leaders do everything in their power to minimise the impact on their pupils, but budget reductions on this scale inevitably mean cutting courses and increasing class sizes.” | “School leaders do everything in their power to minimise the impact on their pupils, but budget reductions on this scale inevitably mean cutting courses and increasing class sizes.” |
| The survey suggests a wave of redundancies could be on the way unless the government eases the plight of schools and colleges, perhaps as early as the spending review next week. | The survey suggests a wave of redundancies could be on the way unless the government eases the plight of schools and colleges, perhaps as early as the spending review next week. |
| Related: 'Perfect storm' has state schools struggling to balance the books | Related: 'Perfect storm' has state schools struggling to balance the books |
| The spending review is expected to include a move towards a new “fair funding” formula, to replace the current system which is criticised for being out of date and tilted towards the inner London boroughs. | The spending review is expected to include a move towards a new “fair funding” formula, to replace the current system which is criticised for being out of date and tilted towards the inner London boroughs. |
| “Nicky Morgan [the eduction secretary] has said the new fairer funding formula will not be ready until September 2017 at the very earliest. Unfortunately that may be just too late for some in the sector,” said Nick Mackenzie, Browne Jacobson’s education partner. | |
| In response, the Department for Education said: “This government is taking the difficult decisions necessary to ensure that the schools budget is protected and will continue to rise as pupil numbers increase. This is a key part of our commitment to extending opportunity and delivering educational excellence everywhere.” | In response, the Department for Education said: “This government is taking the difficult decisions necessary to ensure that the schools budget is protected and will continue to rise as pupil numbers increase. This is a key part of our commitment to extending opportunity and delivering educational excellence everywhere.” |
| The ASCL survey found 55% of school leaders said they were looking to reduce overall staffing in the coming 12 months, of which more than three-quarters said they will reduce the number of teaching positions. Six out of 10 schools said they were looking to reduce staffing levels by up to 5%, with one in four planning bigger cuts of between 6% to 10% over the next 12 months. | The ASCL survey found 55% of school leaders said they were looking to reduce overall staffing in the coming 12 months, of which more than three-quarters said they will reduce the number of teaching positions. Six out of 10 schools said they were looking to reduce staffing levels by up to 5%, with one in four planning bigger cuts of between 6% to 10% over the next 12 months. |
| The survey also suggests that senior teachers have become disenchanted with the government, with fewer than one in 10 leaders saying they were positive about government policies, while 92% said they were dissatisfied with funding of schools. | The survey also suggests that senior teachers have become disenchanted with the government, with fewer than one in 10 leaders saying they were positive about government policies, while 92% said they were dissatisfied with funding of schools. |
| The possibilities of staff cuts could help counteract the staff shortages that many schools are facing, as the DfE revealed a mild improvement in initial teacher training numbers this year. But Labour was quick to point out that the DfE had failed to recruit enough trainees to meet its targets for the fourth year in a row. | The possibilities of staff cuts could help counteract the staff shortages that many schools are facing, as the DfE revealed a mild improvement in initial teacher training numbers this year. But Labour was quick to point out that the DfE had failed to recruit enough trainees to meet its targets for the fourth year in a row. |
| “By botching teacher recruitment and continually doing down the profession, this government has left schools struggling against falling applications in key subject areas like maths and science, and the highest number of teachers leaving the profession since records began,” said Lucy Powell, Labour’s shadow education secretary. | “By botching teacher recruitment and continually doing down the profession, this government has left schools struggling against falling applications in key subject areas like maths and science, and the highest number of teachers leaving the profession since records began,” said Lucy Powell, Labour’s shadow education secretary. |
| Related: Further education colleges on a cliff edge, says Labour | Related: Further education colleges on a cliff edge, says Labour |
| While the forecast for primary school teaching was easily met, only 82% of the forecast number of secondary school places were filled despite an overall rise in recruits. Physics teaching numbers showed an improvement, after the DfE introduced generous bursaries, but the numbers lagged behind previous years in computing and biology. | While the forecast for primary school teaching was easily met, only 82% of the forecast number of secondary school places were filled despite an overall rise in recruits. Physics teaching numbers showed an improvement, after the DfE introduced generous bursaries, but the numbers lagged behind previous years in computing and biology. |
| The latest entrants into teaching are, however, more highly qualified: a higher proportion of teacher trainees graduated from university with top honours degrees, with 18% boasting first class awards. | The latest entrants into teaching are, however, more highly qualified: a higher proportion of teacher trainees graduated from university with top honours degrees, with 18% boasting first class awards. |
| “We know the quality of teachers is essential to young people’s success, which is why we are pleased that teaching remains a hugely popular profession with the highest numbers of people joining since 2008,” a DfE spokesperson said. | “We know the quality of teachers is essential to young people’s success, which is why we are pleased that teaching remains a hugely popular profession with the highest numbers of people joining since 2008,” a DfE spokesperson said. |