Response to autumn budget statement

Responding to the Chancellor’s autumn budget statement, ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman said:

“This statement is bad news indeed for our education service and is going to add to the immense challenge of attracting the highest calibre of candidates to our schools and colleges.” 

“The announcement of a 1 per cent cap on public sector pay, following a two year pay freeze, a day before the strike action is incredibly badly timed and insulting to public sector workers who are already very worried about their future as pension benefits are eroded. This is only likely to harden attitudes towards the negotiations. If the government is serious about coming to an acceptable deal on pensions announcements like this certainly do not help.”

“At a time of unprecedented economic pressure it is incomprehensible that the government is committing that sum of funding to creating 100 new free schools when so many existing schools are in desperate need of investment.”

“As the government has repeatedly stated a high status teaching profession is the key to meeting the challenges our economy currently faces. This statement does little to make that a reality.”

29 November 2011