Union urges heads to carry on spending


Education was hit by cuts of £670 million last month as the new coalition government unveiled its plans to reduce the UK’s budget deficit. The cuts have seen a number of


educational quangos abolished, including the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), Becta and the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE). Becta, the government agency


for technology in schools, was the first to be axed, with minis- ters claiming the move will save £10 million in operating costs this year, and £65 million in future. However, Becta hit out at the


decision, claiming that its activities allowed schools to make savings that more than paid for its operat- ing costs. A joint statement by Graham


Badman, chairman, and Stephen Crowne, chief executive, said: “Becta is a very effective organisa- tion with an international reputa- tion, delivering valuable services to schools, colleges and children. Our procurement arrangements save schools and colleges many times more than Becta costs to run.” The QCDA was the next to go,


with Michael Gove, education secretary, confirming in a letter to Christopher Trinick, the agency’s chair, that he should produce a schedule for the “winding down of functions and the proper, and sen- sitive, handling of staff”.


one union leader is urging heads to ensure they carry on spending as normal. Speaking to a national newspaper


earlier this month, Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “Our advice to heads is to plan as if there are going to be no cuts. Heads know how much they have to spend in the 2010/11 academic year, and if they don’t use it all and put the money in reserves, they will score an own goal. “The inclusion agenda has


Becta and the QCDA, both


based in Coventry, employ around 800 people in total. Other educational organisa-


tions hit include the Training and Development Agency for Schools, which will see £30 million slashed from its budget, the National Col- lege for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services, which will face a £16 million reduction, and the Young People’s Learning Agency, which loses £20 million. Elsewhere, ministers confirmed


that the Child Trust Fund, which sees children given vouchers worth £250 or £500 that they cash in when they turn 18, will be scaled back this year and stopped altogeth- er from January 2011. The School Food Trust has been instructed to make £1 million in savings from its communications budget.


Coalition shelves free school meals expansion


The decision to shelve plans to offer free school meals to primary school children in working house- holds that earn less than £16,190 has been criticised by a leading campaigner. Christine Haigh, co-ordinator


of the Children’s Food Campaign, said she was “appalled” by the announcement, which will deny free school meal provision to half a million new families. She said: “After only a few


weeks, the government’s promises to protect the poorest from public spending cuts are already being abandoned. It is unbelievable that you can be living under the poverty line yet not entitled to free school meals. Losing entitlement to free school meals, as well as affecting children, represents a significant disincentive to returning to work.”


Michael Gove, the education


secretary, confirmed the decision in a letter to his Labour predeces- sor, Ed Balls. In it, he defended the decision,


saying: “We are not stopping free school meals. All pupils who are already eligible will continue to receive them. We are, however, ending the expansion of eligibility this year. “This decision was made


because the cost of extending eligi- bility was significantly higher than anticipated by the previous govern- ment. Money saved this year will be invested in projects to boost the attainment of children from disad- vantaged families.” The Treasury has instructed Mr


Gove to find £670 million worth of savings across the Department for Education (see above).


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Printed by Pensord Press, Wales There will also be a reduction of


£700 million in the budgets of the devolved administrations, which could have consequences for edu- cation in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Despite the cuts, the Treasury


confirmed that the amount of money going to individual schools has been protected for 2010/11. However, Mr Gove has not com- mitted to protecting these budgets in future years. In order to avoid future cuts,


meant an increase in children who need support, so if the government targets teaching assistants as an area in which savings can be made, they will need to look at their own policies as well. You can’t take this help away from children and expect them to thrive, and it will also have a knock-on effect for other pupils – for example, more disruption in the classroom.” Announcing the £670 million


worth of savings in education, chancellor George Osborne had said that schools would “have to become more efficient, like every- one else”.


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