The education world faces many challenges at the moment, but undoubtedly the top three are:
- Insufficient money in the system
- The method in which the budget is distributed
- Teacher and pupil workload
The amount of money allocated by the government is insufficient, and will cause major issues for schools over the coming years. The government quite rightly say that there has never been more money put into education in this country, however what they fail to frequently mention is that with more pupils than ever in school the average budget per pupil had reduced.
It however has to be recognised that in these times of austerity and with the government looking to decrease the budget deficit then education is competing with other departments and therefore has to take its fair share of the pain.
The new funding formula will undoubtedly make the distribution of funds fairer as the previous system of both central and local government applying differing formulas led to the ridiculous situation of similar schools in different areas of the country with similar socio-economic needs and challenges having massively different per-pupil budget allocations. Solving this problem has been long overdue.
When times are tough financially it is vitally important that resources are maximised and assets ‘sweated’. Which brings me on to point 3, and I am sure the most contentious!
Teachers have been complaining for a long time that their workload is too great and they are ‘forced’ to work in ‘their own time’, i.e. holidays, weekends and evenings etc. just to keep on top. Parents are also complaining of the amount of work their children are having to endure. In both cases, stress is often mentioned.
Surely the time has come therefore to do away with the 39-week school year and bring education in line with the rest of commercial and business world at circa 46 weeks.
This in my view would have a number of significant benefits:
- Workload would be spread over a longer school year, thus reducing workload and stress on staff and pupils alike.
- Buildings would be in use more often thus making better use of school assets.
- Parents would have reduced childcare costs as there would be less school holidays.
- The cost of family holidays could be reduced if flexibility as to when they could be taken was built into the system. (Homework carried out when on holiday? A small price to pay maybe for significantly cheaper holiday.)
I know teachers and their unions will be up in arms at such a radical suggestion but education has to move with the times. Being paid an ‘annual’ salary and only working circa 75% of the time is not sustainable!
Ian J Preston
April 2017
The views in this article are my own personal ones. In no way are they meant to reflect, implied or otherwise the views of any organisation I carry out work for or am associated with.
Ian is a school governance consultant.
He provides Governor training and consultancy services to several organisations and LA’s.
He has been a school governor for 24 years in primary, high school and academy establishments.
Away from his education work he a leading Keynote Speaker, Trainer & Business Coach.
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