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Labour 'could save schools £2bn' Labour 'could save schools £2bn'
(16 minutes later)
Education spending could be cut by £2bn by axing thousands of senior staff and "discipline" over pay, the schools secretary for England has indicated.Education spending could be cut by £2bn by axing thousands of senior staff and "discipline" over pay, the schools secretary for England has indicated.
Ed Balls, the first minister to suggest possible cost-cutting moves, told the Sunday Times one option was to merge comprehensives to form "federations".Ed Balls, the first minister to suggest possible cost-cutting moves, told the Sunday Times one option was to merge comprehensives to form "federations".
He stressed he had no plans to increase class sizes or lose front-line staff.He stressed he had no plans to increase class sizes or lose front-line staff.
Teaching unions have given a mixed reaction to the proposals put forward by Mr Balls.Teaching unions have given a mixed reaction to the proposals put forward by Mr Balls.
'Pay discipline''Pay discipline'
In the Times interview, Mr Balls warned of post-general election pay curbs, saying: "It is going to be tougher on spending over the next few years.In the Times interview, Mr Balls warned of post-general election pay curbs, saying: "It is going to be tougher on spending over the next few years.
"If we are going to keep teachers and teaching assistants on the front line that means we are going to have to be disciplined on public sector pay, including in education.""If we are going to keep teachers and teaching assistants on the front line that means we are going to have to be disciplined on public sector pay, including in education."
A couple of months ago he was promising real increases in the schools budget in the months ahead and the years ahead, so there's a total credibility gap. George Osborne, shadow chancellor Send us your commentsA couple of months ago he was promising real increases in the schools budget in the months ahead and the years ahead, so there's a total credibility gap. George Osborne, shadow chancellor Send us your comments
He said he planned to make sure wage rises were kept low in the next three-year deal, starting in 2011.He said he planned to make sure wage rises were kept low in the next three-year deal, starting in 2011.
He went on to stress there were no plans to cut the number of teachers and teaching assistants, but said reductions could be made to the number of bureaucrats and senior staff without the quality of teaching suffering.He went on to stress there were no plans to cut the number of teachers and teaching assistants, but said reductions could be made to the number of bureaucrats and senior staff without the quality of teaching suffering.
Mr Balls spoke of comprehensives merging to form federations, so a head teacher and a team of deputies would work across the different schools.Mr Balls spoke of comprehensives merging to form federations, so a head teacher and a team of deputies would work across the different schools.
He estimated this option could save the department about £500m a year.He estimated this option could save the department about £500m a year.
Another £250m could be saved by losing about 3,000 senior school jobs, mainly through "natural wastage", he said.Another £250m could be saved by losing about 3,000 senior school jobs, mainly through "natural wastage", he said.
It was also likely that more than 300 jobs in Whitehall which involve advising schools about the curriculum could go, he said.It was also likely that more than 300 jobs in Whitehall which involve advising schools about the curriculum could go, he said.
The BBC's Ross Hawkins said that for months the government had refused to say spending cuts were needed, and now the schools secretary had revealed in detail where Labour planned to make some of them.The BBC's Ross Hawkins said that for months the government had refused to say spending cuts were needed, and now the schools secretary had revealed in detail where Labour planned to make some of them.
Mentioning the head teacher resonates with pupils - if they were absent, this wouldn't be the case. Simon Lowe, RE teacher School plans: Teachers' views
He added that it "opened the floodgates" and other ministers would be pushed during interviews to set out the exact nature of any cutbacks.He added that it "opened the floodgates" and other ministers would be pushed during interviews to set out the exact nature of any cutbacks.
'Absolute madness''Absolute madness'
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg strongly opposed the schools secretary's proposals.Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg strongly opposed the schools secretary's proposals.
"It would be madness, absolute madness, as a society, to blight the life chances of the young as the economy comes out of recession," he said on the BBC's Marr programme."It would be madness, absolute madness, as a society, to blight the life chances of the young as the economy comes out of recession," he said on the BBC's Marr programme.
"The people who're least to blame for what's happened are the very young."The people who're least to blame for what's happened are the very young.
Nick Clegg: "I think it's a very silly idea"Nick Clegg: "I think it's a very silly idea"
"And if we want to make sure the shadow of this recession doesn't hang over young people for generations to come: long term unemployment, social divisions then we need to deal with that.""And if we want to make sure the shadow of this recession doesn't hang over young people for generations to come: long term unemployment, social divisions then we need to deal with that."
The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, says Mr Balls is lacking credibility. "Just a couple of months ago he was promising real increases in the schools budget in the months ahead, and the years ahead, so there's a total credibility gap", he says.The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, says Mr Balls is lacking credibility. "Just a couple of months ago he was promising real increases in the schools budget in the months ahead, and the years ahead, so there's a total credibility gap", he says.
'Bureaucrats''Bureaucrats'
The head teachers' union says Mr Balls' comments are "unfortunate", and that head teachers work in excess of 55 hours a week.The head teachers' union says Mr Balls' comments are "unfortunate", and that head teachers work in excess of 55 hours a week.
"The impression he gives is that head teachers are among the 'bureaucrats' who can be replaced. If he thinks that, what does he think they're doing all day?" said Mick Brookes, NAHT General Secretary."The impression he gives is that head teachers are among the 'bureaucrats' who can be replaced. If he thinks that, what does he think they're doing all day?" said Mick Brookes, NAHT General Secretary.
He said the deluge of bureaucracy and regulations poured onto schools in recent years by the government had to stop if head teachers were to get away from 'form-filling' to spend more time with children.He said the deluge of bureaucracy and regulations poured onto schools in recent years by the government had to stop if head teachers were to get away from 'form-filling' to spend more time with children.
"We're looking for him to get his own house in order before criticising school leadership," he added."We're looking for him to get his own house in order before criticising school leadership," he added.
The National Union of Teachers says there are areas where savings can be made, but rejected cuts in staff.The National Union of Teachers says there are areas where savings can be made, but rejected cuts in staff.
"We've criticised the academies programme, where actually there is what we believe is overspending on some very senior head teachers."We've criticised the academies programme, where actually there is what we believe is overspending on some very senior head teachers.
"So there are certainly places where spending can be reorganised and getting rid of the academies would be a good one," commented NUT General Secretary, Christine Blower."So there are certainly places where spending can be reorganised and getting rid of the academies would be a good one," commented NUT General Secretary, Christine Blower.
But another teaching union, the NASUWT, said the government could cut staff in federation schools.But another teaching union, the NASUWT, said the government could cut staff in federation schools.
"For example three schools together, you're retaining three governing bodies, three administrative teams, three head teachers, and sometimes a head teacher over that.""For example three schools together, you're retaining three governing bodies, three administrative teams, three head teachers, and sometimes a head teacher over that."
"We've said that needs to be looked at, and looked at in terms of value for money and cost, but we wouldn't want to see anybody being made compulsorily redundant, " Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said on the BBC News Channel."We've said that needs to be looked at, and looked at in terms of value for money and cost, but we wouldn't want to see anybody being made compulsorily redundant, " Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said on the BBC News Channel.


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