Making the cut: Ofsted's report on school funding
We might expect Ofsted to be the authoritative voice on the effect of cuts to funding in schools and this report does point up some consequences of the current school funding situation. A relatively small number of schools took part - read the report and you begin to see why - but it chimes with our own reports into school funding, suggesting that, although the impact on KS2 and KS4 performance is relative low, the effects are mounting, contained only by the incredibly hard work of school staff.
Around three quarters of schools have:
- Reduced spending on learning resources
- Increased class sizes (secondary; 40% of primary)
- Reduced the number of TAs
- Reduced enrichment activities
- Noted a deterioration in pupils’ well-being
- Reduced individual support for pupils
- Reduced teaching and non-classroom staff (secondary; 45% of primary)
- Reduced premises spending
- Increased pupil numbers (secondary; 40% of primary)
- Reduced spending on CPD.
While similar proportions have seen:
- Increased recruitment/retention difficulties
- Increased education support staff workload
- Reduced staff well-being
- Increased teacher workload
- Increased other staff workload.
This is surely a ticking bomb.