***(UK) Essex schools 'verging on a crisis' over 'unprecedented costs pressures'

Feb 27, 2019, East Anglian Times: Schools ‘on the precipice’ risk teaching cuts to survive, MP warns https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/colchester-essex-mp-will-quince-house-of-commons-education-funding-debate-1-5909484 Fears have been raised that schools might be forced to reduce teaching numbers due to a chronic lack of funding - causing a “detrimental impact” on young people. Colchester MP Will Quince warned that “we are on the precipice” during the House of Commons debate about education funding, adding: “If there is no more fat to trim, the only place left to go is to reduce staff…. He warned that schools in his Essex constituency are already not filling support vacancies…. “While there is more money going into our schools than ever before, we do recognise the budgeting challenges schools face and that we are asking them to do more,” the spokesman added…. During his speech, Mr Quince said schools are “facing unprecedented cost pressures” including special educational needs support, recruitment and staff training to name a few. He also said further education is “verging on a crisis”, with funding frozen at £4,000 per student aged 16 and 17 since 2013…. “Costs have risen sharply and the budget has not risen to reflect that,” Mr Quince said…. “We do need an increase in the revenue budget and in the high-needs budget. The rate for 16 to 19-year-old pupils must increase.”…