NEU Cymru, Wales’s largest education union, is concerned about the ongoing funding crisis in education in Wales, with pupils in Wales receiving up to £400 per annum less than pupils in England. Whilst the Welsh government are somewhat restricted by monies they receive from the government in Westminster, the system used to fund schools and colleges is seriously flawed.
NEU Cymru is calling on the Welsh government to direct the local authorities to ring fence school funding to ensure that it is spent on education. NEU Cymru also want to engage with all major political parties to encourage them to push the UK government for increased funding for all schools and colleges in Wales.
Nicola Fitzpatrick, Wales Secretary of the National Education Union Cymru, said:
“The underfunding of education over the past 14 years by the UK government has had clear knock-on consequences for students and staff in Wales. Education in Wales is really struggling. In real terms, there are year on year cuts to the education budgets across the country.
“Many local authorities across Wales are in a dire financial predicament with a number facing bankruptcy. The Welsh government need to change the way that monies are divided between local authorities across Wales and replace it with a consistent, transparent model of funding.
“Hopefully, the recent Welsh government consultation on proposed changes to existing regulations governing school funding in Wales will help with this.
The text of the motion to conference on this issue was as follows:
Motion 9 School Cuts – A Welsh Funding Crisis in Education
“The underfunding of education over the past 14 years by the UK government has had clear knock-on consequences for students and staff in Wales. Education in Wales is really struggling. In real terms, there are cuts to the education budgets across the country.”
Nicola Fitzpatrick, NEU Wales Secretary.
Conference Cymru notes:
1. There has been a funding crisis in education in Wales, for many years.
2. Insufficient monies go into the education system, and it is estimated that pupils in Wales receive up to £400 per annum less than pupils in England.
3. Many local authorities across Wales are in a dire financial predicament with a number facing bankruptcy.
4. NEU Cymru asked the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB) to instruct the Welsh government to support a fully funded, above inflation, pay rise for teachers for 2025.
Conference Cymru further notes that:
i. The Welsh government are somewhat restricted by monies they receive from the government in Westminster, with the real terms budget being estimated at £4 billion less over the next three years.
ii. The system used by Welsh government to fund schools and colleges is seriously flawed and this has now been recognised by the strategic finance workload group.
iii. The Welsh government need to take the opportunity to overhaul the way that monies are divided between local authorities across Wales.
Conference Cymru calls on NEU Cymru via the executive to:
a. Re-launch and actively promote the School Cuts campaign in Wales.
b. Re-launch the Pay Campaign if the Welsh government offer less than the NEU Cymru’s suggestion of an above inflation and fully funded pay award in 2025.
c. Liaise with all stakeholders including parents, governors, and pupils to ensure the successful re-launch of the campaign.
d. Engage with all major political parties to encourage them to push the UK government for increased funding for all schools and colleges in Wales.
e. Work collaboratively with all education unions to increase pressure on the Welsh government to prioritise education by establishing a new funding mechanism which is fair and transparent.
f. Pressure the Welsh government to direct the local authorities to ring fence school funding to ensure that it is spent on education.