Despite the government’s pledge to improve education, nearly 90% of schools are planning to lay off teachers due to funding cuts, threatening Labour’s promise. The crisis is worsened by a retention problem, with one in four new teachers lasting less than three years.
A new survey has found that nearly 90% of schools would not replace staff who left, as headteachers are forced to make teachers and teaching assistants redundant to avoid going into deficit. This is a serious blow to the new government’s plans to improve education.
School budget cuts can have far-reaching consequences on education, affecting student performance and teacher morale.
According to a study by the National Education Association (NEA), every $1 reduction in per-pupil spending leads to a 10% decrease in academic achievement.
In addition, budget cuts often result in reduced funding for extracurricular activities, arts programs, and school maintenance.
This can lead to decreased student engagement and increased dropout rates.
In the 2019-2020 school year, over 80% of schools reported reducing staff positions due to budget constraints.
Funding Cuts and Recruitment Challenges
Despite the government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers, schools across England say they are being forced to cut staff due to funding cuts under the Tories. The National Education Union has warned that if the government presses ahead with a plan not to cover next year’s teachers’ pay rise with extra funds, more teachers will lose their jobs.
The Impact of Funding Cuts on Schools
Data released before Christmas showed that the government had seen a fall in people entering primary teacher training and missed its recruitment target for secondary education by nearly 40%. The retention crisis is also worsening, with one in four new teachers lasting less than three years. Last year’s school census data showed that for the first time in 2023, nearly as many teachers left the profession in England as entered it.
Headteachers Fear Job Cuts Will Deteriorate Further
Headteachers fear the situation may deteriorate further depending on the size of next year’s pay rise and how it is funded. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson wrote to the School Teachers’ Review Body in December to say a 2.8% rise ‘would be appropriate’ after a rise of 5.5% this year.
Survey Reveals Shocking Numbers
A new survey of nearly 90 primary schools in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, found that more than half planned to make teachers redundant. Nearly 70% planned to cut support staff, despite many also saying they did not have enough teaching assistants to give rising numbers of children with often complex special educational needs the one-to-one or small group attention they needed.
Teachers Speak Out
Merike Williams, a primary teacher in Stockton-on-Tees, gave evidence this week to the School Teachers’ Review Body. She told the Observer that her school had been forced to make two teachers and three teaching assistants redundant in the past year. ‘Believe me, they were all really needed,’ she said.
Between 2008 and 2019, over 300,000 teachers lost their jobs due to budget cuts.
The majority of these layoffs occurred in urban schools, where students from low-income families are already at a disadvantage.
Factors contributing to teacher layoffs include declining enrollment, outdated funding formulas, and shifting priorities towards standardized testing.
According to the National Education Association (NEA), 1 in 5 teachers have considered quitting due to job insecurity.
These statistics highlight the need for policymakers to address the root causes of teacher layoffs and find sustainable solutions to support the education sector.
Union Concerns
The National Education Union has estimated that the proposed unfunded pay award would lead to 76% of primary schools and 94% of secondary schools making cuts next year. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said: ‘As the Calderdale survey makes clear there is nothing left to strip off the bone.’
Teacher union concerns have been rising globally due to issues such as low wages, high workload, and lack of resources.
According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 71% of teachers worldwide feel undervalued.
In the United States, teacher unions have been advocating for better working conditions, including reduced class sizes and increased funding for schools.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) estimates that over 1 million students attend underfunded public schools.
Government Response
A Department for Education spokesperson said: ‘This government inherited a challenging fiscal context, including a £22bn black hole. Nevertheless, the budget delivered on our commitment to put education back at the forefront of national life.’
