Commenting on a report published today which highlights a lack of
funding for the Department for Education at the Spending
Review, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of
the National Education Union,
said:
"The Treasury Committee report is very clear - school funding is
at woefully low levels. Since 2010, education spending has not
kept up with school costs and the increasing number of pupils
which is why class sizes are now so high. Primary class sizes are
at their highest this century and secondary class sizes are at
their highest since records began in 1978, and there are almost a
million pupils being taught in classes with more than 30
pupils.
"This is an inadequacy of the Government's own creation, making
it impossible for schools and colleges to deliver the education
system which children, young people and parents expect.
"The pandemic has put further strains on school budgets. The
Government rejected the proposals of its own catch-up tsar, Sir
, who called for a £15 billion
recovery plan. 's substitute offer of just £50
per pupil per year made a laughing stock of the Government's
claim to be on the side of education and young people. But the
reality of such relentless underfunding is no laughing
matter.
"Running an education system on empty is a political choice that
this Government has made, and for which they must be held to
account. We need to see restoration of funding to all schools to
at least the level of 2015-16, and there must be a serious
funding commitment for education catch-up to ensure every child
has the education they deserve."
