Teachers lost and bigger classes after cuts
STOCKPORT schools are being forced to increase class sizes and cut staff as funding from the government has been slashed.
The Department for Education has revealed that, in 2018 to 2019, the council will spend £125 less on each pupil than last year after figures are adjusted for inflation.
Coun Dean Fitzpatrick, executive councillor for education at Stockport Labour Group, says ‘some schools are being faced with the prospect of not replacing staff just to balance the books.’
Joe Barker, headteacher at Marple Hall School, Stockport, has confirmed that this is a reality for him.
“So far our school has managed to deal with the cuts by increasing class sizes, increasing the amount of lessons that teachers teach and reducing the overall number of staff in school, mainly by not replacing some colleagues when they leave,” he explained.
In 2017 to 2018, spending per pupil in Stockport was the equivalent of £4,393 in real terms, whereas this financial year that figure is £4,268 – a drop of three per cent. In contrast, in England overall, per-pupil spending has fallen by just 1pc, from £4,573 last year to £4,528 this year.
The annual schools budget details how much each council plans to spend on education over that financial year. Money comes directly from the government and covers everything from teachers’ salaries to textbooks.
Mr Barker added: “For many years, Stockport students have attracted significantly lower levels of funding than students in other areas, including those in other parts of Greater Manchester.
“This means that similar students with similar backgrounds and abilities are not on a level playing field. Young people in our area are not getting the kind of investment from the government that they deserve.”
Coun Fitzpatrick added: “Some pupils in the South East now attract 60pc more than ours and that’s a disgrace. The situation is worse than I’ve ever known and it’s getting worse.
“Teachers, headteachers and governors see this as being let down by government. Where it should be investing in our children, it is defunding their futures.”
A DfE spokesman said: “We know we are asking schools to do more, that’s why the Education Secretary has set out his determination to work with the sector to reduce cost pressures, including things like stationery, energy and water bills.”