School cuts crisis unveiled: Challenges ahead

As reported by NEU, the updated school cuts website, operated by education unions NEU, ASCL, and NAHT and backed by Parentkind, exposes the severe repercussions of government funding decisions on mainstream schools in England

The new projections for school funding shows that assuming staff were to receive pay awards next year simply in line with 2023/24, then:

• 92% of mainstream schools face real-terms cuts from April. Children’s education will suffer.
• An alarming 18,484 of schools (92%), both primary and secondary, will be unable to cope with cost increases in 2024/25 without making cuts to education provision. This means 99% of secondary schools and 91% of primary schools will need to make cuts to survive.

Despite the worst recruitment and retention crisis in a generation, with current funding, schools will only be able to afford a 1% pay rise for staff next year.

Ahead of the Chancellor’s statement on 22 November, the School Cuts data makes clear the stark situation facing schools. In its Autumn Statement, the Government must prioritise funding for education and for a fair and fully funded pay rise for all educators next year.

When the chancellor makes his statement, we are calling for an injection of £1.7billion into school revenue funding.

Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Thirteen years of Conservative rule has been defined by sustained real-terms cuts to education. The effect is evident in every corner of schools and colleges today, and there is nothing to be gained from denying this reality. Buildings are crumbling, support services have collapsed, and teachers are having to teach subjects outside of their specialism. None of this is good for children or learning. A government which has insisted for too long on schools doing more with less, has now run out of road. This is an overwhelming case for action on school funding. We need to see substantial new investment in the coming Autumn Statement.”

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The data provided by the School Cuts website is stark and the conclusion inescapable – educational provision and standards are at risk because of the inadequacy of government funding. This government claims to value education above all else. If that is true then the Chancellor must provide the money needed to save our schools.”