school leaders survey 2015 | Page 5
Staffing cuts crisis
Whilst the Government has gone to great lengths
to stress that it is committed to protecting school
finances, the everyday reality for school leaders paints
a somewhat different picture. Going back as far as last
year ministers were warning schools to prepare for a
tougher financial environment and so it has proved for
the vast majority of leaders taking part in our survey.
In real terms many schools are seeing their budgets
under intense pressure from rising salaries, pension and
national insurance contributions leaving school leaders
little or no option but to make cuts to the front line, in
some cases as much as 20%.
Over half of all school leaders (55%) we polled indicated
they were looking to reduce their overall staffing levels
in the next 12 months, with 71% and 62% citing reduced
funding and increased budgetary pressures respectively
as the reason. Three-quarters of those looking to make
cuts (78%) have identified teaching posts. A similar
number are looking to cut support staff and 43% will
be reducing leadership posts.
Of those looking to make savings six out of ten (61%)
are looking to reduce staffing levels of between 2-5%
with one in four (26%) seeking cuts of between 6-10%
over the next 12 months. One in every hundred school
leaders are looking to make cuts of more than 20%.
This raises the important issue of teacher workloads.
In 2014 Nicky Morgan told The Independent she
wanted "to listen to teachers and lighten their
burden". This came only a few months after the
Government launched its Workload Challenge. Whilst
the message will have chimed with school leaders at
the time the reality, according to our survey findings,
is that schools face some difficult decisions now which
on the face of it will only increase that pressure and
burden.
10%
30%
20%
50%
40%
0%
80%
70%
60%
100%
90%
78%
43%
78%
5%
Teaching
staff
Leadership
posts
Support
staff
Other
Q: Among which groups are you looking to
make cuts?
Base: 706 respondents
No
Unsure
Yes
55+28+1755%
28%
17%
Q: Are you looking to reduce your staffing
costs in the next 12 months?
Base: 1281 respondents