ATL COMMENT ON FUNDING PLANS FOR SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND FOR 2008/09 TO 2010/11

12 November 2007

Martin Johnson, acting deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:

“Schools will feel the pinch next year after five years of funding increases.  It will be cold comfort that they are getting more funding than most other parts of the public sector. 

“It will be hard on the schools, which will just get the minimum funding guarantee, where rises in funding will be below the rise in their costs over the coming three years.  ATL will work, within the social partnership, to ensure the funding changes do not result in more work for fewer staff in these schools.

“It remains to be seen how the Government's huge ambition for its forthcoming Children’s Plan matches this belt tightening.

“However, on the plus side, setting out funding plans for the next three years gives schools some certainty over their budgets and should make it easier to plan their spending.

“We support extra funding being targeted at pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those in generally affluent areas.

“We also support Government moves to help schools with falling pupil numbers, since this is usually simply due to local population changes, rather than any failing of the school.”