Above inflation pay rise for MPs 'rubs salt in the the wounds' of budget-hit schools
An above-inflation pay rise for MPs only “rubs salt into the budget wounds” of schools funding staff pay from their own depleted resources, education leaders have said.
MPs are to see a pay rise of five per cent from April, it was announced last week, taking their basic salary to £98,599 a year.
Now, amid suggestions over budget cuts from primary school headteachers in parts of West Yorkshire, there are warnings that settings are already overstretched.
Sue McMahon, speaking on behalf of campaign group Calderdale Against School Cuts (CASC) urged education leaders to seriously consider cash funding.
"We must not fail a generation of children; their educational future should not depend on the whims of any politician," she warned.
“The recent announcement that MPs are set to receive a fully funded above inflation pay award, rubs salt into the budget wound of schools who must fund staff pay awards from their own depleted resources."
Teachers were last year handed a four per cent pay rise, in a move broadly welcomed by education unions but with a warning over no extra funding to cover the costs.
Now a survey of Calderdale primary headteachers, carried out by CASC, has found that 93 per cent expect to make cuts to staffing, provision, or resources in the next 18 months.
The sample survey, issued to 60 primary school headteachers across the district last week, saw dozens - nearly half of all approached - respond in the first few days.
One headteacher, Duncan Hetherington, said the funding situation in his school is "difficult".
"We have real term cuts in budgets compounded by falling rolls and rising costs," he said.
"For many of us these pressures stretch staffing and mean that we have less staff available for us to meet the needs of our children."
Despite the pressures, he stressed, staff and especially those in small settings along with "woefully" paid teaching assistants always did their best to provide for children.
Ms McMahon said: "Whilst the Spring Statement was a fiscal ‘non-event’ for schools, the survey revealed that there is barely enough cash to deliver the day-to-day essentials.
"The pressure on school budgets continues to grow after years of underinvestment. Schools can’t afford to replace staff who leave, with deficit budgets, falling rolls and redundancies on the horizon, having to cut back further leaves schools with an uncertain future."
A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said the core schools budget is to total £67bn next academic year, an increase of £1.7bn on this year.
It is working with schools, they added, to help maximise budgets and focus on delivering opportunities and learning for young people.
They said: “Despite deeply challenging choices about public spending, we have continued to prioritise education as part of our once-in-a-generation plan to improve the life chances of children in all corners of the country, so every child can achieve and thrive.