Hackney schools are set to lose 12% of their funding in real terms by 2020, according to figures released by the National Audit Office.
Hackney Greens are backing the trade unions’ School Cuts campaign to demand action from parliament to stop these damaging cuts.
Freezes on school budgets from now until 2020 will amount to a £11,659, 467 loss for Hackney schools, and the borough is the fifth biggest loser in the country, according to figures from UNISON, one of the unions backing the School Cuts campaign.
Mossbourne Academy is the biggest loser in the borough, with a projected 14% being wiped from its budget by 2020, which amounts to the wages of 23 teachers.
Hackney Greens spokesperson Samir Jeraj said: “We’re backing the trade unions’ School Cuts campaign because we are very concerned about the impact these cuts will have in Hackney. Such vast cuts in real terms cannot fail to have a negative impact on pupils, in a system that is already under pressure.
These cuts are particularly hard to stomach as the Chancellor announces millions of pounds of funding for free schools and Theresa May’s grammar schools vanity project. We must invest more in state education and create an equal system for all.”
Catherine Maguire, a parent of children at Bethnal Primary School said: “My children are lucky to go go to school in Hackney. For the past 6 years they have been taught by wonderful teachers at Benthal Primary School. However, it is already juggling increasingly limited resources and has not been able to replace teachers who have left the school or employ supply teachers to cover when staff are absent. The government's cuts will mean that, on top of this, Benthal stands to lose funding which is the equivalent of nearly half its current teaching staff. It is not an exaggeration to say this will be devastating to the school, its children, staff and the local community.
The government's cuts will hit schools in the most deprived areas like Hackney the hardest, undoing in one foul swoop the amazing work that's been done over the past 10 years. As a parent I just can't see the fairness or logic in such cruel cuts when the government seems to be able to find money to throw at Free Schools.”