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Schools in England and Wales consider shorter days Cuts could mean schools close early two days a week, say teachers
(35 minutes later)
Schools in England and Wales are considering closing early two days a week because they cannot afford enough teachers to cover the timetable, a union has said.Schools in England and Wales are considering closing early two days a week because they cannot afford enough teachers to cover the timetable, a union has said.
The warning came at the annual conference of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), where the education secretary, Justine Greening, was heckled by teachers over plans for more grammar schools.The warning came at the annual conference of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), where the education secretary, Justine Greening, was heckled by teachers over plans for more grammar schools.
Cries of “no!” echoed around Birmingham’s ICC when Greening claimed that “we have to recognise actually that for grammars, in terms of the disadvantaged children that they have, they really do help them to close the attainment gap.” Cries of “no!” echoed around Birmingham’s ICC when Greening claimed that “we have to recognise actually that for grammars, in terms of the disadvantaged children that they have, they really do help them to close the attainment gap”.
The heckles were not caught on camera because organisers banned filming in the auditorium “so that members felt free to ask questions and the secretary of state didn’t feel constrained”, an ASCL spokesman said.The heckles were not caught on camera because organisers banned filming in the auditorium “so that members felt free to ask questions and the secretary of state didn’t feel constrained”, an ASCL spokesman said.
Before the conference began, Malcolm Trobe, ASCL’s interim general secretary, said some headteachers were talking about reducing the weekly teaching hours from 25 to 23.Before the conference began, Malcolm Trobe, ASCL’s interim general secretary, said some headteachers were talking about reducing the weekly teaching hours from 25 to 23.
“What I have heard a number of people talking about is that they are considering reducing the number of lessons in a week, for example, if they currently have 25 one-hour sessions a week, going down to 23; having shorter sessions on a Wednesday or Friday,” he told reporters. “Teachers would have that [those two hours] as planning and preparation time.”“What I have heard a number of people talking about is that they are considering reducing the number of lessons in a week, for example, if they currently have 25 one-hour sessions a week, going down to 23; having shorter sessions on a Wednesday or Friday,” he told reporters. “Teachers would have that [those two hours] as planning and preparation time.”
He added: “They are doing it because they haven’t got enough teaching time to keep the full whack going.”He added: “They are doing it because they haven’t got enough teaching time to keep the full whack going.”
Schools in some areas had floated the idea of going down to a four-day week, but Trobe said that would be illegal. The Department for Education has decreed that schools must meet for at least 380 sessions or 190 days during any school year to educate their pupils.Schools in some areas had floated the idea of going down to a four-day week, but Trobe said that would be illegal. The Department for Education has decreed that schools must meet for at least 380 sessions or 190 days during any school year to educate their pupils.
Geoff Barton, the incoming ASCL general secretary, and a headteacher at King Edward VI Upper School in Bury, said his school was looking at reducing subjects in future rather than lesson time. Geoff Barton, the incoming ASCL general secretary, and a headteacher at King Edward VI upper school in Bury, said his school was looking at reducing subjects in future rather than lesson time.
An ASCL survey found that 95% of members have had to cut back on support services for students and 68% said enrichment activities had been reduced because of budget pressures. Eighty-two percent said class sizes had had to increase, with 20% of them saying there were between six and 10 more pupils per class. An ASCL survey found that 95% of members had had to cut back on support services for students and 68% said enrichment activities had been reduced because of budget pressures. Eighty-two percent said class sizes had had to increase, with 20% of them saying there were between six and 10 more pupils per class.
Trobe told the conference the National Audit Office had estimated that the impact of the extra cost pressures on schools over the duration of this parliament would mean an 8% increase in the cost of running a school. A report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies last week indicated that spending per pupil would drop by 6.5% by 2019-20.Trobe told the conference the National Audit Office had estimated that the impact of the extra cost pressures on schools over the duration of this parliament would mean an 8% increase in the cost of running a school. A report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies last week indicated that spending per pupil would drop by 6.5% by 2019-20.
Greening did not respond to suggestions by Trobe that the government should pay off the student loans of graduates who became teachers to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis.Greening did not respond to suggestions by Trobe that the government should pay off the student loans of graduates who became teachers to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis.
In his speech, Trobe said: “We believe one straightforward, practical step which would attract more of the brightest and best graduates into the profession would be for the government to commit to paying off the annual repayment of student loans for as many years as eligible teachers remain in teaching; writing off the loan completely after a certain period, say 10 years.In his speech, Trobe said: “We believe one straightforward, practical step which would attract more of the brightest and best graduates into the profession would be for the government to commit to paying off the annual repayment of student loans for as many years as eligible teachers remain in teaching; writing off the loan completely after a certain period, say 10 years.
“It would serve as an incentive, not only in terms of recruiting graduates into the profession, but also in helping to retain them.”“It would serve as an incentive, not only in terms of recruiting graduates into the profession, but also in helping to retain them.”