Westbury schools could be £187,000 worse off in 2019, says teachers union

SCHOOLS in Westbury could be over £187,000 worse off in 2019 according to a national teachers’ union which is calling on the Government to invest more in education.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) is campaigning for better funding for schools, and has predicted that schools in the  Westbury area could receive £187,823 less from the Government in 2019 than they did in 2016.

The figure is despite the new national funding formula announced in December. The formula is expected to benefit most  local schools, but NUT says other cuts mean  the schools will still lose money.

The NUT’s figures show some schools hit harder than others – Westbury Leigh Primary School could be £62,771 down while Westbury Infants could lose only £905.

However, the NUT expects that all in the Westbury area will have less funding than they do now and that the town, along with Bratton, Dilton Marsh and Chapmanslade, could lose an average of £77 per pupil. Wiltshire Council this year spent between £2,900 and £4,700 per pupil.

Headteacher at Bitham Brook Primary School, David Ross said, “Cuts are always worrying but they will affect schools in different ways. I think education has largely been spared from big cuts in the past, but has begun to feel it now.

“Most of schools’ money is spent on staff, and it’s the staff who really make a difference to children’s education. Of course schools can’t cut back on things like electricity and water bills so they don’t have a lot of leeway on where money can be saved.”

The teachers’ union’s figures predict that Westbury Leigh Primary School would be worst hit, followed by Dilton Marsh, which could lose £59,667 and Matravers with £41,244. The amounts are predicted by calculating the impact of the cash freeze on per pupil income, a proposed cut to the Education Services Grant and the proposed National Funding Formula.

Kevin Courtney, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers said, “No headteacher should be put in the position of increasing class sizes, leaving building repairs undone or cutting staff and resources simply to balance the books. Nor should any parent accept this for their child. We are one of the richest countries in the world. We can and we should be funding our schools properly.”

Schools’ losses predicted by the NUT, as on 21st December 2016, are: Matravers £41,244 (£58 per pupil); Bitham Brook £14,572 (£49); Westbury Infants £905 (£5); Westbury Leigh £62,771 (£161); Westbury Juniors £5,099 (£23); Dilton Marsh £59,667 (£292); Bratton £1,728 (£13); Chapmanslade £1,837 (£15).

Find out more about the campaign and how the figures are calculated at www.schoolcuts.org.uk