With the release of the indicative National Funding Formula
allocations for 2023-24 [1], National Education Union research
[2] shows that schools will have to make drastic cuts to balance
their budget in the coming year.
Commenting on the NFR allocations, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint
General Secretary of the National Education Union
said:
“Pupils are again set to face another punishing round of
cuts to their education. Incredibly 37% of primary schools
and 26% of secondary schools will see their per pupil funding
increasing by less than 1%. Just 8% of primary schools and 1% of
secondary schools will see their per pupil income rise by 5% or
more.
This year school costs rose by 6% and with inflation currently
standing at 9.9% (CPI), it is very likely that school
costs will rise sharply again next year. Schools are
also dealing with a huge rise in the price of energy and
having to find the money for unfunded staff pay rises.
Cutting subjects offered on the curriculum, support services
within schools, staff shortages and larger class sizes are
rapidly becoming the only way schools can balance the books. The
latest announcement by Government that they will put the
interests of the 1% of the population earning more than £150,000
a year ahead of the country’s future is simply not acceptable.
Money needs to be allocated to ensure schools and colleges have
the funding to ensure every child gets the education they
deserve.
EDITORS NOTES
Sources:
- National funding formula tables for schools and high needs:
2023 to 2024
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-funding-formula-tables-for-schools-and-high-needs-2023-to-2024
- National Education Union calculations
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5urmk31xgnamyh840bald/impact-of-the-schools-NFF-2023-24.xlsx?dl=0&rlkey=ioxwv0u4r8ydu5mswqmdlwu26
