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From The Socialist newspaper, 16 January 2019
30% of English secondaries in deficit: set no-cuts budgets!
Bea Gardner, Southampton Socialist Party
Almost one in three council-maintained English secondary schools were in budget deficit in 2017-18, according to damning new figures from the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
It is urgent that unions and councils mount a fightback against Tory vandalism of state education.
Cutbacks led to over 15,000 less staff in English secondary schools in 2017 as compared to 2015, says the School Cuts Alliance. But secondary schools in deficit have almost quadrupled from 8% in 2014 to 30% in 2017, according to the EPI!
This latest report comes after warnings from education unions that funding pressures are leading to unsafe classroom sizes, fewer subject choices, increased exclusions from school, and failures to meet statutory responsibilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
And this financial year, the number of schools unable to balance their books is set to increase. A survey by the National Association of Head Teachers reveals three-quarters of heads expect to face an in-year deficit.
Teachers, parents and school students don't need statistical evidence of underfunding - they see it every day.
But government ministers refuse to acknowledge the problem. They aim to destroy the idea that ordinary people are entitled to a decent education - as part of a drive to cut tax for big business and disarm working-class resistance.
Jeremy Corbyn's 2017 manifesto pledged a £5.6 billion increase in school funding. But schools can't hold on for a Labour government - they're in crisis now.
Rather than being made to implement further cutbacks, Labour-controlled councils should help schools to maintain no-cuts deficit budgets.
And John McDonnell should promise an incoming Labour government will pay any debts off.
Union leaders are hoping the Tories will increase pupil funding as part of this year's spending review - a recommendation made by the EPI.
The think-tank's report also calls on the government to reconsider rules about redistributing surpluses from schools with money in reserve.
But while there is disparity between different schools' financial situations, all state schools have seen a real-terms cut in funds since 2010.
The only solution is a fully funded, publicly owned education system, responsive to the needs of teachers, students and parents through their elected control.
Under a socialist system, this would be achieved not by redistributing limited funds in a profoundly underfunded system, but by taking the wealth off the super-rich and big corporations and planning it democratically for the benefit of all.
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The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
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In The Socialist 16 January 2019:
What we think
May facing Brexit vote catastrophe
Socialist Party news and analysis
After Grenfell, thousands still in high-rise firetrap blocks
Universal Credit: robbing the working class
30% of English secondaries in deficit
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
A key task - strengthen Tamil Solidarity campaign
Council cuts
Glasgow: huge turnout to fight closure of Whitehill pool
Surrey: save our children's centres
Caerphilly: right-wing Islwyn Labour councillors fight to impose cuts
Nothing to declare? Dodgy councillors hide vested interests
North Tyneside: march to save our footbridge
Socialist history
The 1979 'Winter of Discontent'
International socialist news and analysis
USA: federal workers without pay - but immediate mass action can end shutdown
India: biggest general strike ever
France: union-led action and assemblies can defeat Macron
Mexico: police silence on horrific attack on CWI member
Workplace news and analysis
Unions must fight and demand nationalisation to save thousands of car industry jobs
Hundreds join Manc RMT picket line in solidarity after far-right attack
UCU: Vote Yes and Yes in the higher education pay and equality ballot
Opinion
Sorry to Bother You: "Socialist film Botox that made me feel young again"
Brexit: The Uncivil War - an interesting but inaccurate portrayal of EU referendum
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