School funding crisis

[Chilledpanda]

It's been hard to avoid conversations regarding the cuts recently. Friends with children in different schools are mentioning the schools asking for voluntary contributions etc and today I read about schools considering shortening the school week to save money.
I think both these options are a step backwards and a logistical nightmare for parents.
I know the biggest cost to schools is staffing but I think alot of money could be saved by schools adopting the American and Australian system of parents buying their own childrens exercise books, refil pads and stationary at the start of the year.
We can buy all these things relatively cheaply and would make a difference to school budgets.
Aibu to think this is an option?

I think primary and secondary must be very different in how TAs work within a class.

Why not get companies to sponsor things? For example local businesses providing logo'd pens/books/folders etc. Would improve ties with the local community too.

Why not get companies to sponsor things? For example local businesses providing logo'd pens/books/folders etc. Would improve ties with the local community too.

But then how would academy bosses make any money from their sideline companies?

www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jun/12/academy-schools-cash-cow-business

Yes because schools are full of idiots who would never think of that! Of course we try but the costs of staffing, despite salaries in real terms being 16% lower than 2009, continue to increase due to govt policy.

I spend over £500 every year on resources the school cannot fund. Every teacher I know spends a significant amount to enhance the learning of their pupils. This government had presided over hugh benefit cuts and the impact of these really hits pupils. But we are now worn thin.

I've had to provide stationery for our DC (US schools). Fortunately, we also have an engaged and wealthy PTA that provides all the "back to school" kit for less well off families

It's not terrible, as Staples have amazing offers which make stationery very cheap at the start of the year. Bit of a pain, and again relies on having engaged parents who plan, think ahead, and are able to go out and get the necessary stuff.

If any money were to be saved from staffing it would be best taken from the layers of SLT who spend their days in the office fudging data which helps no one.

Hmm. I suspect the SLT would rather be doing something else - e.g. observing lessons, supporting weaker staff to develop their skills, or even (shock horror) teaching. How about the government stop burdening schools with "initiatives", pointless tests and league table bullshit so the SLT could spend their time more productively?

In many areas, teachers aren't exactly queueing up to apply for promotions. I know of at least one school that had no applicants for the headship for two years. The acting head was retiring, and the school was under threat of closure with numerous redundancies, purely because none of the teachers wanted to step up to become head.

Schools should provide textbooks

Sorry, what are they?

How about the government stop burdening schools with "initiatives", pointless tests and league table bullshit so the SLT could spend their time more productively?

Well, yes - then everyone involved in schools could spend their time and resources more productively.

Instead of concentrating on how schools are staffed (many are understaffed incidently and need more support staff) parents should be asking why the government are not funding our schools adequately and doing something about it. Teaching staff have been trying to highlight for years the increasing problems in our schools- the lack of support, the lack of funding and decent resources, the pointless tasks that take time away from actually planning and teaching effective lessons, yet it falls on deaf ears because teachers have a "jammy" job with short 6 hour days and 13 weeks of paid holidays blah blah blah. The media and government have been playing parents for years and it's only now that parents are going to be potentially inconvenienced by shorter school weeks that the panic is starting to set in. Our education system should be amazing but it isn't, and it isn't due to poor teaching, too many TAs or admin staff. It's to do with the government's constant tampering with something it doesn't understand and has no intention of understanding. It's due to the lack of respect the government has for our schools and an unwillingness to fund them properly. It's due to to government just seeing our children as numbers to be pushed through the sausage factory as easily and cheaply as possible. So it's our duty as parents to start taking a stand and start supporting our schools rather than blaming them for how many staff admin and TAs they have. The government need to address this issue, not schools sacking well needed staff.

What an excellent post.

The last school I worked in (secondary comp in leafy suburban area) featured a bloated & utterly work-shy SLT who cost a fortune while shirking on nil teaching timetables. Staff turnover at all levels below them was enormous, with staff & student morale on the floor. Why should someone be paid £50 - £60k for nil contact while Cover Supervisors, UQTs, supply teachers, NQTs & other teachers are trying to meet the needs of classes of 30+ children ? The largely admin. jobs the 'SLT' undertake could easily be carried out - if any of them are really necessary - by administrative officers, as everyone in the equation well knows.

Great discussion. I think the best action to take is to write to your MP and get talking to other parents about the cuts that schools face.
I saw this video recently and was horrified by the figures - and this is HEAD TEACHERS calling for something to be done before our children's education is damaged
vimeo.com/215811967

Share this on your social media and at least we get the message out there. My son's school is already losing staff and cutting activities.