NUT Comment on Pupil Premium and Education Funding

Monday, 13 December 2010 12:00 AM

Commenting on the statement from the Department of Education setting out funding allocations for 2010/11, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said

"This is not good news for schools, particularly as it comes on top of the cuts already being made by local authorities to the central services provided to schools. These services by and large offer support for pupils with the most difficulties and those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

"We now see that the Pupil Premium is nothing but a conjurers' trick. The Government is simply moving money around the system. Not only is it not new money, but its pathetically low level means that the impact will be negligible.

"All schools are facing extra cost pressures over the next three years. The Pupil Premium will only benefit some schools. The IFS estimated in October that 60% of primary students and 87% of secondary students would see their school's funding cut in real terms. Now the Government has failed on its promise even to protect overall funding. Its so-called minimum guarantees will condemn many schools to losing up to 1.5% of their funding per student even before inflation takes its toll."

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