July 1st 2024.
The current situation in our nation's schools is simply unacceptable. As a teacher, I have witnessed firsthand the dire conditions that our school buildings are in. It was just another ordinary day when I walked into my classroom with my students, only to discover that the floor had caved in. It was a shocking sight, with gaping holes up to a meter deep scattered all over the classroom. We later learned that the cause of this disaster was the corroded and cracked water pipes in our ancient school building. The resulting flood of water had caused the floor to collapse, forcing us to evacuate to a different room in the already cramped school.
Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Our school had already been dealing with various issues, such as peeling plaster, leaking ceilings, and cold classrooms due to poor insulation. However, the lack of funding meant that these problems could not be fixed, leaving us to make do with buckets in the hallways to catch the rain. And in the winter, heating bills became a challenge as our classrooms were freezing cold due to draughty doors and windows.
But it wasn't until the floor caved in that I realized I had to speak out. The government's funding for schools has been steadily decreasing, making the situation in our nation's schools even more alarming and, in some cases, unsafe. The extra pupil premium money our school received due to the high levels of poverty in our community had helped for a while, but as the funding squeeze got worse, it was no longer enough to cover the growing number of issues.
You may remember hearing about schools in the news last year with crumbling concrete. Some even had to close for repairs due to the risk of collapse. But this was just the tip of the iceberg. My school did not have concrete issues, but our building was in a terrible state of disrepair. As the repair bills continued to rise, our funding levels continued to fall. And while the crumbling building was a visible issue, the lack of funds for support staff was just as damaging, if not more.
I have been teaching at this school for 20 years, and I remember a time when we could decorate our classrooms every year and had enough teaching assistants to support the teacher and a large class of over 30 children. We were able to provide attention for small group work, help for students with additional needs, and create a pleasant learning environment. Teaching assistants are crucial in raising the quality of the learning experience for the entire class. But with the cuts in funding, we no longer have enough staff to cover even a five-minute toilet break.
As educators, we also need breaks to do our best work. However, with the current staff shortage, we are often teaching for three hours straight without a break, followed by breaktime monitoring and then back into the classroom. The lack of teaching assistants also means that we are unable to provide extra support for students who need it, leading to a decline in the overall learning experience.
Our school is located in an area with high levels of poverty, and many of our students come from substandard housing. For them, the school should be a safe haven, but with the current state of disrepair, it is far from it. We are also seeing an increase in the number of students with special educational needs. Our tight-knit team of staff is passionate about our school community, but the low staff morale is a clear indication of the dire situation we are in.
We used to do all sorts of additional things to support our families, such as providing bedding, food, and even cooking meals for a family in need. But with the lack of funding and time, we are no longer able to help in the same way. It is heartbreaking to know that we cannot provide the best experience for the children we teach. And speaking to other teachers and staff in Manchester, I know that my school is not the only one facing these challenges.
According to the National Education Union, 100 schools were unable to start on time due to falling ceilings, and thousands of schools have experienced budget reductions in the tens, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of pounds. At the same time, funding per pupil has stagnated at 2010 levels, while teacher pay remains at the same level as in 2001.
Despite all these challenges, I remain hopeful. I have seen the positive impact of having enough staff and resources in our school, resulting in happier, more engaged students and better performance. A good school can truly transform a child's life, and that is all we are asking for – proper funding so we can do the work we love and joined this profession to do.
Our children are not oblivious to the situation either. They know that the investment in their education is lacking. So as we approach the election, I urge you to ask your local candidates to support the funding plan that we desperately need to make our state schools a joy to learn and teach in once again.
As for the classroom that caved in, we had to move into the library for four weeks, which meant that the books were off-limits for everyone else. Although the floor was eventually replaced, it came at a significant cost and drained a large part of our budget that was meant for improving the children's toilets. It is disheartening to think that we have to choose between basic necessities and providing a safe, conducive learning environment for our students.
If we truly value education as a nation, we would not be in this position. Our schools should be a priority, and our children deserve better. Do you have a story to share? I would love to hear from you. Let's continue the conversation and work towards a brighter future for our schools and our children.
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