Overcrowded Classrooms in the North East
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Over the last few years, funding has been tight across the UK, and it’s certainly had an impact on our education system. So, you’ll probably not be too surprised to find out that thousands of children across the North East are being taught in overcrowded classrooms.
According to a new study by the Sunday Sun, over 100 primary schools in the region have been running with classes of over 30 pupils per teacher. Likewise, in South Tyneside, nearly a third of schools have been in the same situation, along with one in four schools in Newcastle.
This is quite concerning research as, legally, Key Stage One (age 5-7) classes should be taught with no more than 30 students per one teacher.
Neil Carmichael, chairman of the Education Committee, has previously spoken about the need for change in our schools, saying:
“The quality of education our children receive fundamentally relies on the quality of teachers in our schools. Schools are facing significant teacher shortages as a result of the Government consistently failing to meet recruitment targets.
“The Government must now put in place a long-term plan to tackle the problems of recruiting and retaining teachers and address issues such as teacher workload and access to professional development, which can drive teachers away from the classroom and into alternative careers.”
Yet, according to the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT), schools in Newcastle will be set to lose £11.2m in real terms by 2019. As well as this, schools in Gateshead will lose £7m, and those in Northumberland will lose £13.3m.
So, if changes aren’t put in place soon to improve the situation, the effects could be devastating.