Commons Sense

Our education system is being failed.

Shockingly, a recent survey of headteachers from NAHT, the school leaders’ union, revealed that half are considering reducing the number of teachers or teaching hours in their schools due to cost pressures.

With rising expenses and government underfunding, schools are near breaking point. Cuts to school budgets have even led to reports that headteachers have resorted to asking parents for money for basic equipment.

This chronic underfunding can be seen across the board.

Support for those with special educational needs and disabilities is insufficient, and a lack of funding has also meant that high quality early years education is not available for all.

School staff are under an inordinate amount of pressure, when I know they are trying their level best.

In the most important stages of development, our children should be provided with high-quality teaching and have access to the resources they need – without this, we are failing a generation of young people.

The Government’s proposals to fix this are simply inadequate.

Whilst they’re pledging to bring per student spending back to 2010 levels (as it was under Labour), the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that current plans will still leave per student spending under 2010 levels.

On top of this, schools will be faced with soaring energy costs and the rising cost of other goods and services, as a recession looms.

I’m further concerned that school budgets have been cut disproportionately more in deprived areas.

It’s vital that all our schools are given the resources they need by reversing education cuts.

For children, families, and communities to thrive, we have to invest in all years of education and uplift those from the most underprivileged backgrounds.

With 42 out of 43 schools in Slough set to face cuts in the coming year, it’s clear something must be done.

We cannot continue allowing schools to fall victim to Tory Government cuts.

We cannot allow hardworking school staff and children, in Slough and across our country, to be so badly let down.