The number of teachers in Gloucestershire is 'dropping dramatically', with a number of schools in the county seeing increasing class sizes.

New figures reveal that Gloucestershire schools are missing out on £1,019 per pupil compared to 2010 funding levels.

There have been 72 schools in Gloucestershire recording a decrease in their teaching staff numbers, compared to previous years and now more than a fifth of schools in the county are recording their highest pupil-to-teacher ratio.

However a spokesperson for the Department of Education (DfE) said: "Figures show that most class sizes are low."

Stroud MP David Drew, who has frequently highlighted the issue of education funding in our county, said: "I'm not suprised. Headteachers across the county tell me budgets are on the brink, and that has an effect on stress among teachers and has led to redundancies."

Analysis of the school workforce census from 2010 has revealed 26 per cent of schools in Gloucestershire have seen their number of teachers drop, a slightly larger decrease than the national average of 24 per cent.

The falling teacher headcount across 72 of Gloucestershire's 278 schools suggests many are experiencing larger class sizes.

In addition, there are 25 schools in the county where the teacher head count is at its lowest levels since records began and the pupil-to-teacher ratio is at its highest.

Uplands Community Primary School in Stroud has seen the number of teachers shrink from 10 in 2010 to seven in 2017.

High School For Girls, Denmark Road Lucy Taylor gets her results

During this period, the pupil to teacher ratio has risen from 16.8 pupils per teacher to 19.4

Similarly in Cheltenham, Pate's Grammar School has seen the teacher headcount drop nearly 20 per cent; from 91 in 2010 to 75 in 2017.

In Gloucester, Denmark Road High School, formerly High School for Girls, has seen teacher numbers drop 24 per cent from 68 to 52. The pupil to teacher ratio has increased from 15.4 to 19.8.

Gloucestershire schools have seen pupil funding shrinking in real terms over recent years.

According to the latest DfE figures, the planned average spend per pupil for this school year is £4,162; which is already less than the average spend of £4,563 in 2011/12 without adjusting for inflation.

Adjusted for inflation, the 2011/12 budget would be worth £5,181, meaning Gloucestershire schools are missing out on average £1,019 per pupil.

'Gloucestershire's funding crisis'

The Stroud MP, David Drew said: "I’m not surprised that class sizes are rising and teacher numbers are falling in Gloucestershire.

"Headteachers across the county all tell me budgets are on the brink, and that has an affect on stress among teachers and has led to redundancies.

"Gloucestershire secondary schools remain near the bottom of funding league tables, 130th out of 149 Local Authorities for Schools Block Funding.

"Secondary school pupils here receive £4,886 per pupil, £343 below the England average of £5,229.

David Drew, Stroud MP

"The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said school spending per pupil has fallen by eight per cent in real terms from 2009/10 to 2017/18.

"The crisis in special needs funding also means that money has to be stretched further and is affecting provision for all children. I have no doubt that many teachers are stressed and disillusioned that they are not able to provide the quality of education our children deserve."

"For all these reasons I raised Gloucestershire’s funding crisis in parliament last week after I called for a special debate with the Schools Minister Nick Gibb.

"I hope he will now take heed and push for fair funding for Gloucestershire schools which is crucial to tackling rising class sizes and reduced staffing."

Spending per pupil has fallen by 8 per cent in real terms over the last 10 years.

Speaking in parliament, Mr Drew declared that 'Gloucestershire has a special needs crisis' with regards to SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

He added 'there is an acute problem, in that we need more money.'

'10,000 more teachers in our schools than in 2010'

When asked to comment about the levels of funding in Gloucestershire's schools as spokesperson for the DfE said: "Figures show that most class sizes are low.

"In fact, the average infant class size is 27.3, well within the statutory limit of 30 pupils per school teacher, and despite an increase of children attending primary schools, the average primary class size has seen no change between 2017 and 2018."

They added: "Since 2017, we have given every local authority more money for every pupil in every school.

The DfE has said that in 2019/20, Gloucestershire is set to receive £356.3million

"In 2019-20, Gloucestershire is receiving £356.3million in total, which is an increase of 3.1 per cent per pupil, compared to its 2017-18 funding levels.

"Whilst the core schools and high needs budget is rising to £43.5bn by 2019-20, we do recognise the budgeting challenges schools face.

"That is why the Education Secretary has set out his determination to work with the sector to help schools ensure that every pound is spent as effectively as possible to give children a great education."

The spokesperson added that school standards 'are still rising'.

The number of primary school pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths has risen again, official figures show.

They said: "There are 163,000 more six-year-olds now on track to be fluent readers than in 2012, a more rigorous curriculum and qualifications, 1.9million more children in good or outstanding schools, with 86 per cent of schools now judged to this standard compared to 68 per cent in 2010, and a shrinking attainment gap."

"Alongside this, there are 10,000 more teachers in our schools than in 2010 but the Education Secretary has been clear he wants more of the brightest and best to join the teaching profession.

"That is why last month we published the first ever recruitment and retention strategy, to make sure that teaching is an attractive profession so we can train and retain the next generation of inspirational teachers."

"We have generous bursaries and scholarships in place in priority subjects and offer targeted financial incentives to ensure that we continue attracting talented individuals into our classrooms."

'The unacceptable running down of our education system has to stop'

The Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, Dr Mary Bousted, said: "It is shocking that in one of the richest countries in the world we have many headteachers who cannot afford to recruit the teachers and support staff needed for their school.

"A chronic shortage of funding is also leading to bigger class sizes, parents regularly being asked for money, subjects being dropped from the curriculum, books and resources not being replaced and school trips cancelled.

"This unacceptable running down of our education system has to stop. Government must ensure our school have the funding and resources to ensure every child has the education they deserve.”

Across England, a total of 4,891 schools have seen the number of teachers fall.

There were 2,639 schools, or the equivalent of one in eight nationally, recording their lowest number of teachers on record.

Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, Angela Rayner, said: "The Tories have slashed school budgets for the first time in a generation and their policies have seen teachers’ pay cut by thousands of pounds, and now a generation of children are paying the price for Tory failure in our schools.

"The fact that so many schools are seeing teacher numbers fall is a direct result of the failure of this government to give our schools and teachers the resources and support they need."

Shortage of funding affecting results?

SATs results from 2018 revealed that primary schools in Gloucestershire were underperforming when compared nationally.

The national average in England sees 64 per cent of pupils meeting the expected standard, compared to 63 per cent of school pupils in our county.

However, although there were 93 schools in Gloucestershire which did not meet the national average, this is a reduction that in 2017.

Secondary schools in Gloucestershire however are outperforming other schools nationally; as a whole they scored 0.02 points better than the rest of England based on 'Progress 8'.

Analysis of the DfE's GCSE results report reveals 47.3 per cent achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths, above the English average of 43.3 per cent.

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