Heads claim cuts will force schools to close early two days a week

SCHOOLS may close early two days a week and cut A-levels in music and French due to a funding squeeze, head teachers warn.

The Association of School and College Leaders, which represents most secondary school heads, said drastic cuts were necessary to avoid financial ruin.

They said pupils could see two school days reduced by an hour each as schools cannot afford teachers to cover all lessons.

And they said ‘ vulnerable’ A-level subjects taken by fewer than ten pupils per school would be terminated.

It comes amid an escalating row over education funding, which erupted again this week when Chancellor Philip Hammond failed to give more cash to existing schools in his budget.

The Government says it has protected per-pupil funding in real terms, but heads say this does not take into account rising costs of staff, pensions, and providing for a growing number of pupils. Malcolm Trobe, interim general secretary of ASCL, said it would mean head teachers having to cut closer to the bone. He said: ‘What I have heard they have been thinking about is that they would reduce the number of lessons in a week.

‘For example, if you would normally run 25 one-hour lessons a week, you may go down to 23, with a shorter Wednesday and a shorter Friday.’

Mr Trobe said that while it was illegal to axe a whole day from the school week, it was permissible to cut two hours.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies recently predicted an 8 per cent real terms reduction in per- pupil funding between 2014–15 and 2019–20.

Mr Trobe said much of this reduction would have to come from the staffing budget. He added: ‘Essentially they haven’t got enough teaching time to keep the whole whack going.’

However, ASCL said that while some heads may cut hours as a ‘last resort’, more were likely to drop A- level courses and extra- curricular activities. Geoff Barton, new general secretary, said: ‘Many people will do what is happening at my school, which is saying we’re going to cut this A- level and this A-level.’ Sian Carr, president of ASCL, added: ‘It will often be those subjects which have always been a little vulnerable, music A-level and modern foreign language Alevel and so forth.’

It comes as an ASCL survey found pupils in many secondary schools are now being taught in classes of 35 or more because of funding issues. A Department for Education spokesman said: ‘As this week’s Budget demonstrates, the Government is determined to ensure every child has access to a good school place and is given the opportunity to fulfil their potential. It means around a billion pounds more will be invested in creating more school places, rebuilding or refurbishing existing schools and investing in technical education for 16- to 19-year-olds.’

‘Unfair, opaque and outdated’