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Headteachers cutting costs without considering impact on pupils, Ofsted chief warns

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman: PA
Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman: PA

School leaders are cutting costs without looking at the impact on pupils, the chief inspector has warned.

Ofsted boss Amanda Spielman said it was “concerning” that schools were responding to funding pressures by cutting languages, computing, design and technology and music courses, as well as extracurricular provision.

Some school leaders are not examining the impact of their cost-saving measures on vulnerable pupils such as those with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), the watchdog chief said in a blog.

An Ofsted study found that most schools had made cuts in teacher numbers amid funding pressures, which the chief inspector has warned could lead to a reduction in expertise.

Ofsted has faced pressure to address the impact of the school funding crisis on education.

In the new post, Ms Spielman hit out at school leaders for their response to funding cuts as she accused them of not considering the impact on Send provision, teacher workload and the curriculum.

“Too often we found that decision makers were not sufficiently monitoring the impact of their decisions on the quality of education and on their most vulnerable pupils,” she said.

Her remarks came after an investigation revealed that schools across one of the country’s biggest academy chains had been urged to only boil as much water as they needed in kettles to help tackle a £1m deficit.

An email from the finance director of David Ross Education Trust (Dret) to school leaders, seen by Tes, included other cost-saving advice – including turning off lights and computer screens – to save money.

The blog post by Ms Spielman has now been removed from Ofsted’s website after it was shared in error. It was due to be published alongside a separate report in the coming weeks.

Stephen Rollett, curriculum and inspection specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “We welcome the chief inspector’s acknowledgement of the damage done by the school funding crisis, but we are disappointed that she accuses schools of failing to do enough to monitor the impact of the cuts they have had to make.

“Let’s be clear that the blame lies with the government which has caused the crisis by failing to fund schools properly and leaving them with no alternative other than to make cuts.”

He added: “Schools spend most of their budget on staffing so they don’t have any option other than to reduce courses and extracurricular provision if they have to make cuts.

“It is the last thing they want to do but they have been left with impossible choices, and no amount of monitoring makes that situation any better.

“The government has now pledged more money for schools, which is a welcome move, but it is not enough to reverse the cuts.”

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said it would comment on Ofsted’s report on school funding when it was published in full.

They added: “This government has announced the biggest funding boost for schools in a decade, giving every school more money for every child.

“We recognise the challenges that schools have faced and that is why we are increasing funding so all children get the top quality education they deserve, whilst supporting schools to recruit and retain the best teachers.

“All pupils should benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum and we work with Ofsted to make sure that this is the case.”

A Dret spokesperson told Tes: “It’s right that all of us in the education sector are mindful of costs and take sensible steps to reduce any waste.

“As is well known, the funding environment continues to be challenging for schools across the country and so we have made a number of suggestions that will help ease the pressure whilst ensuring that there is no impact on frontline teaching.”

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