South Gloucestershire pupils wearing coats in class due to funding cuts, teachers say
- Published
Some pupils in South Gloucestershire are having to wear coats in class because their schools can't afford to turn the heating up, teachers say.
Head teachers say their schools are experiencing the same funding pressures we all are because of the cost of living crisis, but in addition, they say their district is the worst-funded education authority in the whole of England.
As a result, school leaders say they have stopped running school trips as well as clubs and activities and have even reduced the amount of heating in their school buildings, which can make it chilly in the classroom for teachers and children on cold days.
What's the temperature like in your classroom, are you toasty and warm, is it too stuffy, or do you feel cold? Why not let us know in the comments?
The cuts are being made in both council run and central government funded academy schools across South Gloucestershire.
South Gloucestershire Council said while it could not give an exact figure for the number of schools affected, restricting the amount of heating in class was likely to be "relatively common" in schools in the region.
The Government says school funding is approaching its "highest level in history".
What's happened?
South Gloucestershire Council says their schools are among the worst funded in England, ranking bottom out of 151 education authorities in the country, in terms of mainstream government funding.
Head teachers in the area say they have been forced to take a "shocking range of measures" as a result.
This includes stopping school trips and stopping clubs and activities like singing, arts and sports. It also means sharing teaching staff across groups or schools, and reducing the heating in schools and the length of time it is turned on for.
School leaders and the local council are asking for a significant improvement in schools funding for the district.
Multi-academy chief executive Dave Baker said: "There simply isn't enough money for us to do our jobs properly."
Labour's co-leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Ian Boulton, added: "Our children are missing out on opportunities."
"This is not a question of the competence of school leaders - they are doing the very best that they can and we are supporting them in that - but they are being asked to do the impossible," he said.
A government spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "Nationally, school funding will reach the highest level in history, in real terms per pupil, by 2024-25.
"This includes an extra £4m for mainstream schools in South Gloucestershire for 2024/25.
"This takes the total funding to £206.5m."
Are you allowed to wear a coat in class? Why not let us know in the comments how you find the temperature in class?
