AFTER MUCH NEWS COVERAGE, Bill Bowkett EXAMINES THE STATE OF EDUCATION AND THE IMPACT OF TODAY'S POLICIES IN THE FUTURE
If you thought Brexit was the only controversial issue in politics, think again. The result of the referendum has sent shock waves through the country and even toppled Prime Minister Cameron to be replaced by Teresa May. Aside from promising more funding for transport, prisons and transport, in the last Budget the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond, made a stark statement. As the economy since voting to leave Europe has been ‘so bad,’ public spending was to be cut by five per cent to 40 per cent. Rather worryingly, these radical cuts would affect schools.
If you search online the Conservative party’s education policy, it will tell you about how much it is doing “to help the next generation get on in life and succeed in the global race.” I am here to question this statement.
The first thing that the government are supposedly aiming to do is: “Protect the schools’ budget, because nothing is more important than our children's education.” Tell that to the post-Brexit budget managers. Schools are in a dire need of funding right now, whether that would be for supporting students with learning or personal issues, encouraging students to participate in extracurricular activities or simply keeping class sizes below 46 (as reported in a school in West Yorkshire). Unless the government allocates more money, schools will lose £3 billion a year in funding by 2020. That is £400,000 per school and nearly £500 per each secondary school student. That's £500 less spent on your education every year.
All of this information is from www.schoolcuts.org.uk, who are raising the issue for the public to pressure the government to doing more. It is a helpful website, as it allows you to see how these cuts will affect your own school, or school that your children attend. I worry what our school will be like in the future after further funding cuts. KTS prides itself on offering a vast array of extra-curricular activities and the Sixth Form boasts a great selection post-16. Yet, I can already see how these changes made by the government are affecting the school. North Herts MP, Sir Oliver Heald disagrees with these projections but was unavailable for interview.
From September this year, new students that come into Year 7 are asked to contribute per year, when previously their entire secondary school education was free. Our school has been forced to do this.
The one positive statement from the Conservatives is that they will be “investing £18 billion in new schools, so buildings and facilities match our ambition for the next generation”. Our school has already seen the construction of a new Science and Sixth Form block. Yes, they may be fantastic and useful, but this new accommodation is built for a brighter future, not a time where subjects are being dropped.
I want to finish by asking the question - why are the government cutting education? The UK prides itself as being one of the smartest nations on the planet and this country has built up state schooling so much since its creation in the Reform Era of the 19th Century. More people are attending university than ever because of the success of state education. To see the system being undermined because of finance is ridiculous. Education should be a priority because the young people today are the people of tomorrow.
If you would like to share your views on this issue, submit a response to Schools National Funding
Views expressed are those of the writer's and do not represent the views of the staff or governors at The Knights Templar School. the fairer funding formula for schools is yet to be published and that the deal will "ensure that areas with the highest need attract the most funding and end the historic unfairness in the system."