{"id":189,"date":"2022-10-18T13:33:37","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T12:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.evolvesi.com\/?p=189"},"modified":"2023-01-18T16:28:46","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T16:28:46","slug":"school-budgets-what-evolve-can-contribute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evolvesi.com\/2022\/10\/18\/school-budgets-what-evolve-can-contribute\/","title":{"rendered":"School Budgets \u2013 What Evolve Can Contribute."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to an article in The Conversation (Schools in England are facing bankruptcy \u2013 here’s what the government could do to help (theconversation.com)<\/a>, it will take less than two years for inflation to eat the cash reserves of all our secondary schools.\u00a0An inflation rate of 8.8% is a large part of the problem (Consumer price inflation, UK – Office for National Statistics<\/a>) and is compounded by a funding settlement that means in 24\/25 funding per pupil will be 3% lower than in 2010 in real terms (Struggling secondary schools facing budget cuts \u2018worth four teachers\u2019 amid cost crisis | The Independent<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is money for Pupil Premium and the National Tutoring Programme (quoted at \u00a32.44bn and \u00a3349m respectively), neither are wrapped into the national funding formula. Thus, the rules around how the money can be spent limits the flexibility of school leaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year it was reported that the National Education Union believes 44% of teachers will leave the profession by 2027 (Teachers are leaving the profession in droves \u2013 I might be one of them | Metro News<\/a>). The NEU further claims there has been a 20% reduction in teacher\u2019s pay over the last decade and that \u201ceducators are leaving the profession in their droves\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the UK\u2019s Health and Safety Executive, teaching staff and education professionals report the highest rates of work-related stress, depression and anxiety in Britain. And this quote came before COVID (Summary and recommendations: teacher well-being research report – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>). This report noted \u201cthat teachers are suffering from high workloads, lack of work\u2013life balance, a perceived lack of resources and, in some cases, a perceived lack of support from senior managers, especially in managing pupils\u2019 behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the children there are also challenges. The cost-of-living crisis is being witnessed in the classroom. An NEU survey reported children lacking energy, more behaviour problems and fewer children being ready and equipped to learn (Children\u2019s education is being harmed by cost of living crisis – Twinkl Digest<\/a>). In addition, Children\u2019s Society notes that 52% of young people have experienced a deterioration in mental health in the last five years (Schools and mental health: why teachers are quitting the industry | Metro News<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a general pattern emerging. A reducing budget, exhausted staff and disoriented children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is likely schools will have to do what they have already been doing; get creative and take a pragmatic, incremental approach. Fixing small things can have a big impact as we have found inmany of our school partners. For example;<\/p>\n\n\n\n