Commenting on the IFS report about school funding in England,
Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School
and College Leaders, said:
“Schools know only too well the realities of real-terms funding
cuts, and it is shameful that those serving deprived communities
have been particularly badly affected. On the ground, this
translates into cuts to the curriculum, and larger class sizes.
“The extra £7.1 billion being put into schools by the government
through to 2022-23 is welcome, but it will be largely absorbed by
the costs of pay awards, rising pupil numbers, and other
inflationary costs. There won’t be enough to reverse the cuts
that have already taken place, and the financial situation will
continue to be challenging for the foreseeable future.
“Sixth forms and colleges, which have received a much smaller
funding uplift from the government, continue to be woefully
underfunded and the squeeze in this sector is especially severe.
“The financial situation in schools and colleges is made worse by
the fact that the government has so far refused to reimburse the
significant costs that have been incurred in putting in place
Covid safety measures in order to reopen this term, such as
enhanced cleaning, hand sanitisers, signage, and supply cover
when teachers have to self-isolate.
“This will put even more strain on budgets which are at breaking
point and mean that schools and colleges have less money to spend
on educational provision.
“It is a desperate situation and the government has its head
buried in the sand.”
