Schools in Wales “are catastrophically short of funding,” the body representing headteachers has warned in a dire assessment of the state of the nation’s education system. Budget pressures were described as “overwhelming, paralysing, and terrifying,” by the leader of the Association of School and College Leaders Cymru.
Addressing school leaders at ASCL Cymru’s annual conference in Cardiff today (WEDS DEC 12) Claire Armistead, who was head of Rhyl High School until last sunner, was speaking even after Education Minister Lynne Neagle, last week announced an additional £50 million in 2024-25 for education in Wales.
Ms Armistead did not think the money would address the bleak situation, telling the conference: “We work in a system that’s so different from the one we joined. The pandemic has changed everything – it has reshaped what we thought we knew and altered the context of every single school. Earlier this term schools described how even subjects such as maths are being cut and you can reda more about that here
“And we work in an education system catastrophically short of the funding it needs – even though that need is greater than ever before. Many of our schools have financial deficits.
“Many of our schools are having to make impossible decisions – to cut their curriculum offer; to increase class sizes; to reduce pastoral support. We welcome the additional £50 million of funding announced last week by the Cabinet Secretary for Education. She has listened and she has responded - but the sad reality is that our education system has been chronically underfunded for far too long and the damage runs deep. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
“The extra money is a starting point – but it has to be followed up by further investment in order to put our schools on a more sustainable footing.”
Ms Armistead warned that support services working with schools, such as youth services and specialist mental health support are also “on their knees” adding to pressure.
“Our children need and deserve so much more,” she said.
The gloomy assessment comes after schools and governing bodies around Wales have warned that lack of money has left them cutting some subjects, increasing class sizes and making redundancies. You can read the warnings from school governors here.
There is also a shortage of supply teachers meaning some children are taught by unqualified staff when their teachers go off sick, a Senedd committee warned this week.
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