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Fix School Funding

The issue

  • There has been 15 years with no overall growth in  school spending. This squeeze on school resources is effectively without precedent in post-war UK history.
  • Schools are now facing new and significant cost pressures e.g. surging energy prices, covid-related costs, falling primary pupil numbers, the National Insurance increase, and pressures due to significant underfunding of SEND.
  • Changes to the government’s national funding formula (NFF) have seen a redistribution of funding away from schools serving the most deprived communities in recent years.
  • Funding for pupils with special educational needs (SEND) is in crisis, with overall High Needs budget deficits estimated to be more than £2billion and growing
  • The value of pupil premium funding designed to support the most disadvantaged pupils has fallen in real-terms since 2015.
  • The government has only invested a small fraction of the covid recovery funding that its own recovery commissioner said would be required.
  • Between 2009-10 and 2021-22, capital spending declined by 25% in cash terms, and 29% when adjusted for inflation.
  • Specific types of schools including small schools and maintained nursery schools remain under extreme financial pressure and many of facing the real risk of closure.

 

What we want to see

  • The government needs to be more ambitious for schools and set out a proper funding plan that addresses the 15 funding squeeze.
  • The government needs to offer more support for schools experiencing severe financial pressures as a result of rising energy costs.
  • The government should set out a proper long-term capital funding plan to bring all schools up to ‘good’ condition.
  • The government should commit to a truly ambitious recovery plan based on the work of its own recovery commissioner.
  • The government should commit to at least restoring pupil premium funding in real-term terms, and increasing the Early Years Pupil Premium to reach parity with the primary pupil premium.
  • A consultation on the long-term future of the approach to maintained nursery school funding should be launched without delay.
  • The government must use the ling-awaited SEND review to develop a truly needs-led approach to SEND funding.
  • Sufficient and sustainable funding for small schools.

 

What we want you to do

 

Our conference motion

“Conference instructs National Executive to develop a national fair funding campaign to press government  to provide a sufficient overall level of funding to meet the needs of all pupils, through the national funding formula and the high needs national funding formula. This is required now to enable schools to set budgets from 2022-2023. It would allow them to meet all their statutory responsibilities and provide an extended curriculum offer that supports all children and young people to thrive academically, socially, physically and spiritually.

Conference further instructs National Executive to campaign for an increase in capital funding that will address the nation’s decrepit school estate, to ensure that school buildings and grounds are safe, fit for purpose and appropriate for the needs of the 21st century.”

Useful links
 

MP roundtable resources

Other useful links

Relevant articles and reports

 

 

West Midlands heads deliver a letter to Downing Street calling for more school funding

School leaders from across the West Midlands have joined together to write a letter to the Chancellor, explaining the crisis in education funding currently affecting schools in the region and the impact it is having.

A delegation of head teachers from the region delivered the letter to 11 Downing Street on Wednesday 3 July, where they were met by West Midlands MPs. More than 600 school leaders and chairs of governors have so far added their names.

In the letter, they called on the Chancellor to take immediate action to end the crisis and give children in the region the education they deserve. A copy of the letter will also be delivered to Conservative Party leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.

Schools in the West Midlands have lost more than £140 million from their budgets whilst pupil numbers have risen by almost 50,000 in just three years.

The letter says:

“School funding is at breaking point. We have been forced to make heart-breaking cuts to our budgets which are now impacting on standards as well as pupil and staff well-being.

“We have made all the efficiencies we can. Spending on curriculum resources, facilities, premises, ICT and other areas have all been slashed. Now we are facing impossible choices about which staff positions we need to cut. Nationwide, 5,400 teachers, 2,800 teaching assistants, 1,400 support staff and 1,200 auxiliary staff have been lost already. These are vital posts that schools need to support children.

“In the West Midlands, schools are looking at drastic solutions to balance budgets including implementation of a four and a half day week. This desperate action has been a last resort for school leaders who are acutely aware of the impact this has on their local communities but are simply left with no other alternative.”

Emily Proffitt, head teacher of Tittensor First School in Stoke-on-Trent, one of the leaders delivering the letter, said “Children don't get a vote, so it is our duty to speak up for them. The government is gambling with their futures. Many pupils face a double whammy as austerity bites at home, and cuts to school budgets narrow their opportunities. It is appalling that our parliamentary representatives, voted in by their constituents, are so reluctant to listen to our concerns.”

NAHT general secretary, Paul Whiteman said “School budgets are at breaking point. Government ministers are now freely admitting that something must change. We need to see immediate relief from the Treasury and a long-term commitment to increased funding for schools and colleges in the Comprehensive Spending Review.”

Find out how you can get involved in our funding campaign here. We are also encouraging members to support our call for the government to provide sufficient funding for our schools by joining us on our march in Westminster on Friday 27 September. Register your place at the Fund Schools Now march here

First published 05 July 2019

First published 05 July 2019
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