Cuts to school budgets in West Dunbartonshire will result in increased disruption and a drop in attainment, it has been warned.
Gavin Corrigan of the EIS trade union issued the stark message last week during a meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council’s educational services committee.
He warned that schools were already seeing an increase in classroom disruption, adding that the cost of living crisis and hangover from the Covid-19 pandemic was continuing to have an adverse impact on young people’s education.
WDC currently faces a budget black hole of more than £20million, with cost saving options due to be considered by members at Church Street this week including a 20 percent cut to general school budgets.
A 50 percent cut to curriculum development budgets is also being considered, whilst funding provided by the Scottish Government to tackle the attainment gap between rich and poor households in West Dunbartonshire is to be slashed next year.
Addressing the committee Mr Corrigan, who works at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High, said: “We are looking at proposed cuts of 20 percent from the top line.
“That equates to 17.5 full time employees.
“That gives us real concerns for the impact that will have on pupils and staff.
“We often talk about the high levels of deprivation in West Dunbartonshire, and this is being exacerbated by the cost of living crisis that we’re living through.
“To remove staff at this time, as pupils are recovering from the impact of the pandemic, seems counterproductive.
“Pupil absences and the number of pupils finding full days challenging are increasing. Yet we are reducing budgets by 20 percent and reducing staffing levels.
“In schools we will see a greater level of disruption. We are already experiencing more abusive language and violent behaviour, and this is a real concern for us.
“We recognise that action is being taken. But these cuts are inevitably going to lead to an increase in disruption.
“It will inevitably lead to a reduction in attainment and achievement statistics.
“If we’re serious about reducing the poverty related attainment gap then our schools need additional resources, not less.”
Responding, Labour councillor David McBride warned that children will suffer most from budget cuts.
Councillor McBride also hit out at a change to wording in how the attainment gap is tackled.
He said: “I was really interested in what Gavin was saying. It’s quite sobering for all of us in this committee to hear about the day-to-today experience in our schools.
“The reality is that we are going to be seeing service cuts in education as well and everywhere else.
“Gavin is absolutely right in saying that our children will suffer.
“I noted the wording in the report. We’re now not closing the attainment gap, we’re narrowing it. That certainly seems to show a lack of ambition.
“Our reduction in the attainment funding is almost £300,000. Take that onboard with the cuts that will be made in December and March and it’s certainly not going to be welcome in our schools.
“Our teachers and pupils will suffer because of that. That’s a real shame at a time where we should be trying to raise aspirations.”
