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Original poster

Funding may not be the issue in schools?

56 replies

damnedifyoudodammedifyoudont · 03/07/2024 08:01

I know lots of threads already exist on VAT, and this isn't another; putting aside that, does anyone think more money into education (beyond recovering the real terms cut in budgets / covering pensions) isn't the issue?
My (?) unpopular opinion is that teacher burnout and money not stretching have more to do with people's expectations of the service, not the budget.

People have gone from expecting an essential service to education to requiring it to cover parenting, pastoral care, and more. While I see value in some of this, where does parenting stop and school start?

When free education was developed, schools didn't need entire departments dedicated to mental health and pastoral care.

How can we continue to pay for these things and keep the fundamentals going?
I'm not saying we shouldn't have these services, but where does it stop?

This can be applied to the NHS and possibly other government services too.

What do others think?

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 03/07/2024 08:16

damnedifyoudodammedifyoudont · 03/07/2024 08:12

No, not at all. I mean when schools didn't have to potty train and teach children how to use cutlery or dress themselves, and when parents worked with schools rather than undermining them.
I know there are cases where parents need to advocate for their child, but there are also cases where parents cause issues at school rather than accept their child needs discipline.

Show quote history

Every single child I know who isn’t potty trained by school has a level of SEN.

If they didn’t cut all the funding for specialist provisions it might not be so hard.

I don’t disagree about discipline but my experience is there’s very little even when warranted. There are plenty of mechanisms to deal with poor behaviour but many schools are inadequate at it.

Original poster
damnedifyoudodammedifyoudont · 03/07/2024 08:13

RishiIsACuntWaffle · 03/07/2024 08:08

Parental support goes a long way.
The profession needs to be trusted rather than questioned at every turn.
Homework late negative given. Leading to a parental email. They didn't do the homework let the teacher get on with their job.

But yabu as funding is a huge issue. Schools which were going to be re built in the bsf programme which the Conservatives cancelled are now is an awful state.
Not enough money for glue sticks.
No teaching assistants until last year (5 years in the same school and there were no in class teaching assistants during that time)

Restructures and staffing cuts.

It is the actual job itself and the relentless demands of the job that are leading to experienced staff leaving the profession (me included). New teachers get 30000. Where is the value placed on experienced teachers. Retention needs to be a priority.

Exactly this. I agree about cuts, which is why I said beyond re-building the funding of real terms cut and the pension cost.

OP posts:
Original poster
damnedifyoudodammedifyoudont · 03/07/2024 08:12

Merryoldgoat · 03/07/2024 08:05

You mean back when children with SEN were labelled dunces, corporal punishment was the norm and there was no safeguarding so abuse went unreported?

Yeah. The glory days.

No, not at all. I mean when schools didn't have to potty train and teach children how to use cutlery or dress themselves, and when parents worked with schools rather than undermining them.
I know there are cases where parents need to advocate for their child, but there are also cases where parents cause issues at school rather than accept their child needs discipline.

OP posts:
RishiIsACuntWaffle · 03/07/2024 08:08

Parental support goes a long way.
The profession needs to be trusted rather than questioned at every turn.
Homework late negative given. Leading to a parental email. They didn't do the homework let the teacher get on with their job.

But yabu as funding is a huge issue. Schools which were going to be re built in the bsf programme which the Conservatives cancelled are now is an awful state.
Not enough money for glue sticks.
No teaching assistants until last year (5 years in the same school and there were no in class teaching assistants during that time)

Restructures and staffing cuts.

It is the actual job itself and the relentless demands of the job that are leading to experienced staff leaving the profession (me included). New teachers get 30000. Where is the value placed on experienced teachers. Retention needs to be a priority.

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 03/07/2024 08:07

I don't think it's either / or, I think it's both.

Schools and the NHS have both been hugely damaged by the other cuts to support and a lack of joined up thinking.

That's what's been so insidious about 'ringfencing' core service spending. They are still impacted by cuts elsewhere.

We really need fresh thinking, and a shift in ideology from 'this is a cost we need to reduce' to 'this is a vital support network we need to get working more effectively'.

Merryoldgoat · 03/07/2024 08:05

You mean back when children with SEN were labelled dunces, corporal punishment was the norm and there was no safeguarding so abuse went unreported?

Yeah. The glory days.