UNIONS fear hundreds of teaching posts in Wirral could be lost as a result of planned Government cuts in funding.

Figures on the website www.schoolcuts.org.uk suggest schools would be £15,738,158 worse off by 2019/20 than they were last year.

Published by the NUT and other teaching unions, the site compares each school's funding in 2015-16 with funding the Government predicts it will receive in 2019-20 under its proposed new National Funding Formula (NFF), which is adjusted for the impact of inflation and cost increases imposed on schools. 

Unions fear the cuts could lead to 872 teaching assistants or support staff losing their jobs.

According to the website, five Wirral schools that would be worst affected are:

  • Kingsway Primary School, with a potential cut of £967 per pupil
  • St Paul's Catholic Primary School, with possible cut of £752 per pupil
  • Upton Hall School FCJ could lose £694 per pupil  
  • Birkenhead Park School, spending could drop by £671 per pupil
  • St John Plessington Catholic College, could lose £666 per pupil

Unions claim the NFF will redistribute existing money across the country, while the Government’s funding freeze and inflation and employer cost increases will cut the value of every school’s funding by almost 10 per cent.

The NUT estimates the combination of a new funding formula and cost increases means 98% of schools will be worse off in 2019-20.

The latest Department for Education figures show that 60% of secondary schools are already in deficit.

Ian Harris, Wirral divisional secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said: "Under this Government's funding policies, there are no winners, only losers.

"Wirral schools are being forced to make decisions that no head teacher should have to make including reducing school staff and teachers, increasing class sizes, and reducing the range of subjects offered simply to balance the book.

"This is an unacceptable state of affairs."

Jeffrey Bevan, district secretary of the Wirral Association of Teachers and Lecturers said: "The Government has not put the needs of children first in failing to come up with any additional funding for schools.

"Without additional funding schools will have to cut staff, increase class sizes and charge parents for extra-curricular activities."

Paddy Cleary, branch secretary of Wirral Unison, said: "Wirral Schools, as every school in the land, need adequate teaching provision with sufficient support staff.

“These cuts could lead to 872 Teaching assistants or support staff losing their jobs.

"We cannot allow this to happen as the children literally are our future.

"The NUT, ATL and Unison will continue campaigning for additional funding, to protect schools and our children’s education."

Supporting their campaign, Cllr Phil Gilchrist, leader of Wirral's Liberal Democrats said:  "In recent months public concern has focused, rightly, on the Health Service.

"Yet the new funding formula for schools, coupled with the squeeze, is having a growing impact on our schools.

"There is a rising tide of concern locally. The new funding formula has winners and losers.

"Overall Wirral is losing, and Cheshire is losing even more.

"The Government claim to be listening, spreading the cuts  over time, but the impact is being felt already, so people need to speak up".