to be scared by school budget cuts?

[TeeGee123]

My son's school is a two form entry primary. They're losing £805 per pupil, equivalent to SIX teaching salaries.

Although the government says that its moving money around nationally, all my FB friends (Penzance, Abergavenny, Manchester) are seeing cuts at their schools. (they checked here: www.schoolcuts.org.uk/)

What's going on? Anyone on here getting MORE in their local schools?

[MrsT2007]

There's isn't a school anywhere getting more.

They're all getting less, with increasing pupil numbers and increasing costs.

[Devilishpyjamas]

Yes it is frightening. They're doing to school children what they have been doing to the disabled for a long time. The only good thing about these cuts is they're more visible so the general public are starting to realise just how bad things are.

[walruswhiskers]

There is a back bench rebellion starting on the school budget cuts though. Pressure your MP even if s/he is a Tory. Actually especially if a Tory as the Tory back bench are a more Effective opposition than the Labour Party at the moment

[TittyGolightly]

That site isn't reliable. Westminster don't have control over Welsh schools, who may well lose nothing.

[TeeGee123]

TittyGoLightly I REALLY hope you're right, but I think you're being optimistic. Friend in Abergavenny posted this: www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/schools-standards-fall-exclusions-rise-12625499

[trashcansinatra]

In always sceptical of statistics that aren't backed up with real data and use terms like 'real terms'.

I don't think the losses they show are real 'cuts' - I think they are saying that IF school budgets were increased in line with predicted inflation on a per pupil basis They calculate a figure.

Then they calculate what they think the school might get and the difference is the 'cut'.

So pretty dubious maths, especially since the biggest cost in schools is staff and pretty much no other civil servants get pay rises that match the predicted inflation rates.

It looks like a website to push a particular political point without presenting any balance so for that reason I can't trust it at all.

I actually don't know what the facts are. On LBC on Friday this was being discussed with one head bemoaning the fact that he rainy be able to have drama classes of 15 and he will have to increase the size!

If that's his best example, it doesn't sound like a crisis to me.

[Emphasise]

The new funding formula will give some schools more. Just not yet,as it's still in consultation. My small infant school, in a leafy area stands to gain c. £16000 pa which is a lot to us. Inner city schools who have traditionally been better funded will lose.

All school have seen cuts this year at the same time as having to absorb the increased minimum wage and NI costs etc. It's tough, it really is. However, there is still a lot of waste in schools and this is forcing leadership to really look at how that manage their budgets. It was too easy when there was plenty of money just to spend it without really considering what benefit it brings to the children. (I am leadership BTW!)

[Emphasise]

Sorry, that's cuts in what they can buy with their money. Our block funding is about £40k more than last year.

[EnormousTiger]

Emph, that's right. The losers are places like Hackney, the well funded London schools and the winners are likely to be the areas with poor exam results and less money currently.

[ListenToYourHeart]

It's very frightening.

Signed the petition & have emailed My local mp.

[Theworldisfullofidiots]

I live in Cambridgeshire. We are one of the lowest funded primary schools in the country currently. We can't even afford to replace basic IT. We are getting an increase and it is a magnificent £3000 in total. God knows where the money is going.

[Megatherium]

I find it horrifying. My children's primary school stands to lose the equivalent of three teachers, and I just don't see how it can be done. Some local secondary schools are looking at losing 12-16 teachers. One of the worst aspects is that, in order to minimise the risk of leaving classes without qualified teachers, schools will have to cut down on people like SENCos, by sharing them with other schools or requiring them to have classroom responsibilities as well. So, yet again, this government shafts the most vulnerable.

[TeeGee123]

trashcansinatra the maths is very simple. If inflation is at 1.6% (Jan '17) and budgets only increase by 1%. Then that's a real terms cut.

If budgets weren't getting smaller, do you think schools would be asking for money to buy text books??

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-cash-strapped-schools-asking-parental-contributions-ps600

Question: does the calculator show budgets for your school being cut? If so, why not ask the head if its real or not? I asked mine, and the cuts are very real.

[WinkyisbackontheButterBeer]

My school is loosing a big chunk whilst also being expected to meet the needs of increasing numbers of vulnerable and complex children. There are no longer specialist provisions and funding m to the la's SEN support has been slashed so there is not even anywhere to go for help and advice.

[Theworldisfullofidiots]

BTW some of the back bench rebellion is also because some of the underfunded areas are not getting much or any increase in reality.
School budgets were set historically on what your local council/Borough decided to spend on education. This was not 'scientific' just related to local govt politics. The top 10 funded areas in terms of counties are labour strong holds. The same goes for London boroughs

[Emphasise]

Ask to look at their budget Mega ;-0 Unless it's a huge school no primary school has lost the equivalent of three teachers but of course schools get to choose where they allocate money.

It will be that certain members of staff have very high salaries and/or they're spending it elsewhere. Or possibly, as was the case at my last school, have had the luxury of a number of non-class based teachers by using previous years' carry forward and that money's now run out.

[TeeGee123]

theworldisfullofidiots this is what I don't understand. There's talk of a redistribution of money, but there are huge cuts for most schools, and some tiny gains.

enormoustiger That's a bold claim. Do you know that for a fact? I think what's really happening is that the overall budget is going down, and the "redistribution" is a smoke screen. I've asked everyone I know, all over the country. They're all going down. What's happening at your local school? www.schoolcuts.org.uk/

emphasise I'm pleased to hear that, it's the only good news I've seen so far.

[TeeGee123]

PS: Emphasis 80% of primary school budgets go on salaries. And the salaries are by no means enormous. So if you cut the budgets, you're ver likely to lose teachers, TAs.

[Emphasise]

You can see here how it will affect your school

consult.education.gov.uk/funding-policy-unit/schools-national-funding-formula2/

[Emphasise]

Yes, I know that, actually it's more than 90% at our school but that's because we have a deputy and a headteacher who are very well paid and take almost 50% of the salary bill between them.

[Emphasise]

Oh God, what a typo, it's not that bad! 30%

[theresamustgo]

It's alright though cos like a few of us will be able to get into grammars.

Actually it is crap.

[Salzundessig]

Treating teachers better so they didn't quit throughout the year/go on stress leave would save them money on supply agencies. Shame I can't see them approaching it from that end though...

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

The government expects salaries to form no more than 80% in total of income - in fact 80% is on the highest acceptable limit and the most efficient schools run at between 55-70% on staffing. If the contact ratio is lower than 0.78 there are likely to be inefficiencies that may require a curriculum review. However the NFF is worrying and a lot of schools just won't be able to manage as single academy trusts and will look to join larger trusts.

[thedcbrokemybank]

Our small village school stands to gain by 37%. We are traditionally underfunded so the increase is welcome but as a bigger picture it is entirely unrealistic. I am not sure how they have managed to make such a mess of it!