Teacher job cuts could hit 200, warns Swansea governor
A SCHOOL governor has warned twice as many teachers than predicted could lose their jobs when Swansea Council slashes its education budget this year.
After yesterday's revelation that up to 100 teachers could lose their jobs in the next year due to budget cuts at Swansea Council, a school governor told the Post the figure could rise to 200.
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A school governor believes twice as many teachers than first thought could lose their jobs when Swansea Council makes education budget cuts.
However, Swansea Council has described that figure as "extreme", claiming it will be closer to 60.
But the school governor said: "If the figures are right we will lose £75,000 from our budget.
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"We are losing two teachers, so with almost 100 schools in Swansea, we are talking about 200 teachers. It is disgusting."
When Swansea Council unveils its budget later this month, the money allocated to education is expected to be slashed by £5.6 million, with £4.5 million being taken out of school finances.
The move is expected to force schools to make teachers redundant as they seek to make ends meet.
John Radford, who chairs the Swansea Secondary Headteachers Association (SCCASH), told the Post the impact would be worst for the vulnerable children in city schools.
He said: "Head teachers are working closely with primary colleagues to assess the impact of the proposed cuts to school budgets. Heads recognise the pressure on the local authority, but cannot distance these cuts from the quality of teaching and learning received in schools in the City and County of Swansea.
"The proposed cuts will lead to children in primary and secondary schools being disadvantaged, particularly those most vulnerable children.
"It will be difficult to predict the extent of teacher cuts at this moment, but with a proposed settlement of -0.9 per cent and with the fact that 85 per cent of school costs arise from staffing costs, cuts will inevitably lead to teachers losing their jobs."
Union bosses have also slammed the decision to cut the cash going into education. David Evans, Welsh secretary of the NUT, said: "Schools are cut to the bone as it is. They have to look at savings in another way. That cannot be a situation that is acceptable to councillors, parents and teachers in Swansea."
A council spokesman said: "The figure of 200 teacher redundancies is extreme.
"On the basis of the projected budget, planning work with head teachers and predicted early retirements, we would anticipate the figure is closer to 60."
alex.brown@swwmedia.co.uk
Related articles:
Swansea schools face crisis as budget cut forces axing of up to 100 teachers
Comments
by Angry Teacher, Gowerton
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 4:04PM
“"Dave - Mayals
It will not be the bad teachers who go or the older ones. It will be the ones where there are a surplus in the department - regardless of age/ability.
Don't speak about what you don't know about.
The curriculum will drive which teachers are pushed out of the education sector.
4 maths teachers? Can you do it with 3 and loose one class to make bigger classes? If so the maths teacher will go. They maybe the best in the LEA - but they will be surplus to curriculum requirements.
AT”
by Em, Uplands
Sunday, February 07 2010, 8:14PM
“I cant believe how naive some people are - this will NOT improve schools as class sizes will be bigger, teachers will be mores stressed, all non-essential activitries like music lessons and trips will go. Textbooks will not be bought. Classrooms and schools will look a lot tattier. I fail to see why this city's children should suffer and results will fall beacuse thios council wasted money on silly projects like a one-way system for a purple bendy bus that hardly anyone uses!!”
by Dave, Mayals
Friday, February 05 2010, 7:38PM
“David, Llangyfelach - what you say is complete rubbish. How many teachers do you know that have been sacked because they aren't good enough. Inspections don't mean anything. Why do you think there are so many failing schools? Why do you think the education standard is so low in this country compared to many others, including ones that spend much less than us.
It's not because we have great teachers.”
by Poo-litical, Swansea
Friday, February 05 2010, 1:53PM
“Poll Dancer, Davos
I have my own style of writing, so please don't suggest to anyone that I am imitating others! As I have informed you before, I am Poo-litical, Swansea and not a James! This only confirms that you have judgement issues!”
by I teach a proper subject, Swansea
Friday, February 05 2010, 10:12AM
“Achmeds - absolutely spot on. Sports science, media studies, forensic science the list is endless of non subjects which are allegedly just as important as science, maths, English or foreign languages. Get rid of them - they are not subjects which lead to good quality jobs or any jobs at all. How many sports science graduates are working behind reception desks in leisure centres? Do you need a degree in photography to take a few happy snaps?”
by David, Llangyfelach
Friday, February 05 2010, 7:40AM
“Those of you who think these redundancies will be aimed at sub-standard teachers are quite wrong.
The decision on who gets made redundant will be made purely on which school you work in and the who is the cheapest to be made redundant.
But to be honest, in this day and age of regular inspections, internal monitoring and yearly assesments , it's very difficult to get by with being even a mediocre teacher, yet alone a bad one.
There are certainly no teachers in school I work in who I wouldn't want teaching my own children.”
by Achmeds, Uncle
Thursday, February 04 2010, 10:04PM
“With a bit of luck the teachers that will lose jobs will be the ones that think that the world revolves around egg chasing ( rugby ), and not the teachers that teach serious subjects that are needed for our pupils to achieve their qualifications needed for them to get a decent job.
egg chasing is a pastime not a career.
Unfortunately a large amount of people think the world is still square and that Wales can still win a Grand Slam. I once went to a college presentation evening where all the students got their certificates for passing their courses., It was mind numbing gagging and nauseous when 80% of the evening was taken up discussing the rugby tour that the college team had been on, with a guest speaker who by sheer chance used to play rugby for Wales.
If all the cutbacks take away decent teachers teaching decent subjects I see the Welsh populate being experts at rugby and clog dancing over a broomstick all singing Calon Lan and then signing on the Dole every other Tuesday”
by Joan, Sketty
Thursday, February 04 2010, 9:47PM
“Jonathan, Sketty - beacuse that's what happens when politicians are in charge. They have no idea why they want more teachers and at the same time they are sacking them. Give them a call and ask them.”
by Dave, Mayals
Thursday, February 04 2010, 9:45PM
“gorsboy, swansea - there isn't any threat hanging over good teachers. If staff get cut it will be the bad ones who go. And ALL schools have bad techers. We are better off without them. So what's all the fuss about?”
by Jonathan, Sketty
Thursday, February 04 2010, 9:29PM
“Can you join the Swansea Labour party if your surname is not Lloyd?”