ASCL responds to LGA report on Covid and education recovery

Commenting on the Local Government Association’s report, ‘Better connected: How local education and children’s services in England have responded to the coronavirus pandemic’, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“The LGA is absolutely right about the need for a long-term strategy for education recovery which supports vulnerable families and children. Covid has not only highlighted existing inequalities but led to greater hardship as a result of the financial and societal impact of the pandemic. It is vital that government recovery plans prioritise those who are most in need.

“This reports also points out the huge pressure on local leaders and on budgets – including several schools having to set deficit budgets. We have repeatedly warned the government about the impact on school and college finances of Covid-associated costs but its response has been inadequate. The government’s commitment to supporting a recovery programme is welcome, but its failure to properly mitigate the immediate financial impact of the crisis on schools and colleges is incredibly short-sighted and unhelpful.”