Labour said they would hire more teachers - numbers are down
Swindon is suffering following poor policies from Labour
Following contact from concerned residents, including parents and teachers, we wanted to share some troubling facts about teacher numbers and government promises.
Labour said they would hire more teachers. But now, quietly, they have dropped primary schools from their target.
The figures show why. This year alone, we have lost 2,900 primary school teachers. Secondary school numbers rose by just over 2,000, but overall, there are now 400 fewer teachers in England than there were a year ago. That is the first drop in teacher numbers since 2012.
As councillors and parents, this is deeply worrying. Primary schools are already stretched. Class sizes are growing. Support staff are being asked to cover more ground. And now, instead of facing the problem, Labour is shifting the goalposts. The government has confirmed it will only count new secondary and further education teachers towards its pledge of 6,500. That means thousands of primary pupils will see no benefit at all.
Labour also claimed that VAT on private schools would pay for this. But the sums do not add up. The policy is expected to raise about £1.5 billion per year. Yet according to education experts, hiring 6,500 teachers will cost more than £5 billion over the course of a Parliament. That leaves a gap of at least £3.5 billion and no clear plan to fill it.
When the funding falls short and the targets keep changing, it is pupils who lose out. Local schools do not need spin. They need staff. They need investment. And they need honesty.
What are you seeing in our local schools? If you are a parent, teacher, or just care about education, I would like to hear from you. Are you seeing larger class sizes, more pressure on staff, or other challenges?
Once we have heard more from residents, we will write to Swindon Borough Council and ask the Cabinet Member for Education what they are doing to monitor the situation locally and to ensure that schools in Priory Vale and Haydon Wick are not negatively impacted.
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/primary-schools-not-included-dfes-6500-new-teacher-target
Leanne Stevenson