– Balcarras School in Cheltenham, which have been effective in raising serious concerns over current funding levels. These troubles have placed its sixth form sector on a knife edge. Headteacher Dominic Burke expressed his concerns over the impact of these financial constraints on students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The historic school was built in 1957 and is over 12,000 m2 (129,000 sf) in size. Today it is underpinned by an annual capital funding of £30,000. This amount has not followed the skyrocketing costs of educating students. Burke added that the school is ten teachers short. This lack of instructors has pushed the pupil-to-teacher ratio up to 17.5. This is a huge increase from the ratio of 15 that had been in effect twelve years ago.
Indeed, cuts to funding have severely affected school-based sixth forms disproportionately—a nationwide average cut of 20% over the past few years. Burke emphasized the skilless this has put on the school’s capacity to furnish a well-rounded curriculum. He stated, “That just means that everyone is working harder and class sizes are going up.”
Pepe Di’Lasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), pointed out that the trend of underfunding for post-16 education has persisted for over a decade. He remarked, “We’ve seen a massive underfunding for the last decade for all post-16 support and this has been because it’s not part of a protected core funding offer that schools have got.” This absence of support significantly undermines the quality of education. It unnecessarily shackles students’ ability to choose their course of study.
The results of these funding conflicts are most dire for students hailing from low-income communities. Di’Lasio explained, “And their choices will be limited because they will have to do what they have available to them in their location,” emphasizing that those unable to travel to alternative sixth forms will bear the brunt of these challenges.
As the teaching results of Covid become clearer, teachers at Balcarras School will receive a new pay deal. This bump will make new annual operating costs even more sky-high. This additional access to capital markets insurance implied future curriculum cuts for the school. Burke’s worries are palpable as he considers the long-term effects on student outcomes: “My school is worried for the life chances” of its sixth formers.
