Responding to the Spring 2023 budget announcement (15 March 2023) and the lack of any new funding for schools,ÌýEmmaÌýKnights,Ìýchief executiveÌýofÌýtheÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø, comments on the significant funding challenges faced by governing boards in schools and trusts.Ìý
“º£½ÇÉçÇø is extremely disappointed the Chancellor has failed today to invest further in England’s schools. The Chancellor’s fourth E of education should more rightly have been called early education. While investment in childcare is long overdue and very welcome, it does not tackle the pressures on schools being felt by their leaders and their governing boards.ÌýÌýÌý
In particular,ÌýaÌýfailure to fund an increase in provision for pupils with additional needsÌýand forÌýstaff pay will contribute to a chronic shortage of teachers and support staff, with a devastating impact on pupils’ education. We surely all know we need to entice good people to work in schools and provide this essential service for the children, youngÌýpeopleÌýand the future of our country.ÌýÌý
º£½ÇÉçÇø, along with the rest of the education sector, celebrated the announcement made in the chancellor’s autumn statement that schools’ budgets in England would receive additional funding. While this announcement left schools in a slightly better position,Ìýit didÌýnot reflectÌýtheÌýfullÌýinvestmentÌýneeded to improve pupil outcomes which willÌýultimately strengthenÌýboth the economy and theÌýcountry.Ìýº£½ÇÉçÇø isÌýtherefore deeplyÌýdisappointed that today’s budget lacked anyÌýfurtherÌýmovement forÌýfundingÌýschoolsÌýand increasing staff pay.ÌýÌýÌý
Real terms per-pupil funding of our schools had declinedÌýbyÌý9% in the decade toÌý2020ÌýandÌýisÌýonly recently beingÌýrestored to the level it was at in 2010. While enabling more schools to stay afloat,ÌýtheÌýinvestmentÌýrequiredÌýto equip schools and trusts to improve education positivelyÌýis still lackingÌýin manyÌýplaces.ÌýÌýNot enough has been done toÌýmoveÌýus forwardÌýat a time whenÌýchallenges for schoolsÌýhave grown:Ìýthe number of children withÌýadditionalÌýand complex needs is rising, family poverty isÌýrisingÌýand other public services are diminishing.ÌýWe welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to wrap-around care for school pupils, there are many other services children, families and communities need.
Balancing the budget is still a very difficultÌýchallenge forÌýa large proportionÌýof boards; one that forces them to make difficult choices over staffing levels, curriculum provision and services that support pupils.  This poses a very real risk of a decline in educational standards and to our competitiveness as a global economy.Ìý
Pay for teachers and support staffÌýcontinues to be an urgent issue for governing boards,Ìýour members.ÌýSector leading research, including º£½ÇÉçÇø’s own annual governance surveys, highlights a deteriorating picture of recruitment and retentionÌýof state school staff.ÌýÌý
As those accountable for ensuring their organisations deliver the means of providing a brighter future for their children and young people, governing boards across the country urgently need to see a resolution to the current industrial actionÌýso that children do not lose more education.ÌýWeÌýremainÌýincredibly concerned that a resolution to this seems some way off.Ìý
Unfortunately, many of our members feel responsible for something they currently do not have the funds to fix."ÌýÌý