School heads struggle with 'catch-up' cash

Primary school teachers say they have not received enough cash to help pupils catch up on their lessons following disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

A survey by education charity the Sutton Trust found that 68% of primary school leaders reported receiving insufficient catch-up funding this year.

Saving they have had to make include 35% saying they had reduce support staff, and 32% saying they had cut spending on IT equipment.

Secondary school heads reported being less affected – with 53% reporting that funding had been sufficient.

However, a significant number of secondary school heads reported making cuts – including 24% reducing teaching staff, 28% cutting assistants, and 31% reducing support staff.

The survey also found that 33% of school heads reported dipping into the pupil premium fund for poorer students to plug gaps in their general budget.

Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust and chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation, said the survey results showed the "monumental challenges" facing schools as a result of the pandemic.

"This poll shows that schools are facing monumental challenges as a result of the pandemic, with schools having to cut crucial staff and support for pupils," he said.

"With all these ongoing pressures, dedicated funding for poorer pupils through the pupil premium is more crucial than ever. It's a disgrace that a third of heads still report using pupil premium funding to plug budget gaps. The Government must make an enormous investment in education recovery so that all pupils are given a chance to succeed.”