What Budget Cuts Mean For Frontline Teaching

In times of austerity, it's inevitable that education will bear some of the force of budget cuts

. The UK government, however, has given assurances that frontline teaching will not be affected by a reduction in spending, saying that the education budget will increase by 0.1% in real terms in the period to 2014. They have also cited the 'Pupil Premium', a scheme to ensure that extra money goes towards helping children from deprived backgrounds, as an example of how funding is being increased rather than stripped away.

Educational leaders have expressed doubts over these plans. With the Pupil Premium, for instance, it's claimed that this increase in funding is being taken from substantial cuts in programmes that fund building maintenance, school sport, specialist teaching, careers advice and new technology in the classroom, among others. Some head teachers have said that while frontline teaching is theoretically protected, schools are in fact having to fund critical rebuilding projects by redirecting money used to pay for teachers and support staff. This means that the cuts have actually led to teachers and teaching assistants losing their jobs.

But what does this mean in reality for the classroom, and how is quality of education affected? Inevitable consequences of staff cuts include larger class sizes and subjects having to be cut from the curriculum, meaning that students have less support and fewer options to choose from. It also means that in some cases crucial support staff are no longer available, which puts pressure on teachers dealing with challenging pupils. The net effect is a greater burden of work, which reduces the time spent on actual teaching. This in turn has an impact on levels of achievement.

Teachers are also facing further pressure on their salaries and benefits. The issue of pension reform is particularly worrying for teachers, as it will lead to staff working longer, contributing more while receiving less. This has already resulted in teachers going on strike and some have argued that the squeeze on pay and pensions is damaging morale in the teaching profession. It also makes teaching a less attractive vocation, meaning that the education system may struggle to attract and retain a new generation of young, talented teachers.

The combination of lower morale and greater pressure on teachers may have a damaging impact on the standards of frontline teaching, with consequences for the quality of education that students receive. Of course, it is still too early to reach any conclusions about the true impact of budget cuts on the British education system. With the Comprehensive Spending Review only completed in late 2010, it will take time to assess what a reduction in spending has meant for schools and teachers. Also, the government has insisted that the majority of savings will be made by improvements in efficiency and a reduction in waste, and that frontline teaching will not suffer. Only time will tell if this is indeed the case.

by: Hannah McCarthy

POST COMMENT

Brake Pads For Example Honda Brake Pads Are Offered On The Net. Get Beautiful Condos Or Villa At Quail West Primary Worker Complaints Write A Chorus Cmo Perder Peso En Las Mujeres De 40 Y Ms The Perfect Mastiff Dog Cots Things You Must Consider Before Fixing Body Jewellery How To Pick Correct Outfits For Grown Ups Rectify Accounting Errors To Bring About Accuracy In Final Accounts Enjoy A Colorful Holiday In Mumbai cul Es La Dieta Correcta Para Usted? Is Door Supervisor Training Really Helpful In Security Industry? Hd Action Camera Comparison - Drift Hd Vs. Camone Infinity 1080p