NGA joins national education organisations warning MPs of funding crisis
The National Governance Association has joined other national education organisations warning Conservative MPs of the funding crisis facing schools and colleges.
The open letter, sent ahead of this week’s conservative leadership elections, calls on Conservative MPs to seek assurances from leadership candidates that they will deliver on the party’s 2019 manifesto pledge to restore school and college funding to 2010-levels, should they become leader.
Current forecasts predict a £2bn shortfall in funding by 2024, that “cannot be absorbed by schools and colleges without severely impacting the quality of education.”
The letter describes the “heart-wrenching choices” school governors, trustees and leaders are having to make as a result of the funding shortfall, including staff redundancies, cutting support for vulnerable learners and reducing the curriculum offer.
Steve Edmonds, Director of Advice and Guidance, National Governance Association:“This important letter shows that the school and college sector is entirely united in making the case that schools are facing unprecedented financial pressure, meaning that once again those leading and governing are being forced to make cuts that reduce the quality of education. We encourage governing boards to make the case direct to their MP and urge them to call for the government and treasury to act and avert a crisis which will otherwise have a devastating effect on children and our future economy”.