Budget cuts bite as schools scale back services

Four out of 10 head teachers and other senior school staff are cutting school services due to funding constraints, according to a study.

The survey of 1,500 primary, secondary and college heads and special educational needs co-ordinators found that 26 per cent have had to either close or reduce extended services such as breakfast and after-school clubs.

One in 10 has cut sports and music and six per cent have either stopped or cut one-to-one tuition.

Secondary schools have been the hardest hit, with one in three head teachers in the sector reporting cuts.

The survey, carried out by school support organisation The Key, also found schools are struggling to cope with an increase in administrative work due to council cut backs.

Despite local authority cutbacks, school leaders reported unease at switching to academy status.

Of those surveyed 35 per cent say they are not clear about the financial implications of switching.  Small schools and those with high numbers of pupils with special educational needs are among those most unsure about academy status.

Fergal Roche, managing director of The Key, said that school leaders “are more concerned than ever about getting value for money and are having to make some tough decisions about where to spend resources”