Children being 'short changed' by school funding cuts

A Brighton school funding campaign and an education union have hit out at the Government over school funding.
By Bex Bastable
Published 25th Mar 2019, 10:50 BST
Updated 25th Mar 2019, 10:56 BST
School funding (Credit: Pixabay)School funding (Credit: Pixabay)
School funding (Credit: Pixabay)

This morning (March 25) the National Education Union said School Cuts coalition analysis shows £5.4 billion has been cut from school budgets since 2015.

It has complied data for schools all over the country which can be viewed here.

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Paul Shellard, Brighton & Hove NEU Secretary, said: "This is an intolerable situation. Children and young people are being short-changed by a Government that believes their education can be run on a shoestring budget."

Cath Fisher, parent and member of the Brighton-based Save Our Schools campaign, said: "Our children and young people are experiencing the impact of the stranglehold on school funding.

"Across the city, we’ve heard of deteriorating buildings, cuts to arts and music provision and school assemblies in tears as teaching assistants and support staff are laid off.

"Schools are reduced to begging parents for money to cover basics such as books.

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"Lack of funds has forced schools in Birmingham to move to 4.5 day weeks, we wonder if our schools will be forced to do the same.’

Andy Richbell, headteacher at St Nicolas Primary in Portslade said: "In schools all over the country, the opportunities we are able to offer our children are reducing.

"Pastoral support is being cut as levels of anxiety in children are increasing. Levels of exclusion are beginning to rise again.

"Brilliant staff who passionately care about their children have taken on more and more responsibilities to the point where they feel they can’t do their jobs properly anymore and we lose them from the profession.

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"Headteachers are marching on Downing Street in their thousands. Local MPs from all parties recognise the impact that school funding cuts are having in our communities and are speaking out."

The School Cuts coalition is calling for a reversal of cuts to school budgets since 2010, and for better funding for schools and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision.

To find out more about the campaign, visit: https://schoolcuts.org.uk/

Related topics:GovernmentBrightonSchools