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Teachers

Schools and Colleges Under Unprecedented Burden, Report Warns

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The burden placed on school and college leaders and teachers has never been higher, according to a report by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). Schools are being expected to provide a wide range of societal responsibilities, from running food banks and supporting families with housing to resolving parking issues and mediating parental disputes. The report highlights the need for a long-term plan for education, similar to the one in place for the National Health Service (NHS), and a strategy to clearly map out who is responsible for different services in local areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • Schools and colleges are shouldering an unprecedented burden, with many running food banks and supporting families with housing.
  • The report highlights the need for a long-term plan for education, similar to the one in place for the NHS.
  • Schools are being expected to provide a wide range of societal responsibilities, including resolving parking issues and mediating parental disputes.
  • The ASCL has set out what services schools should reasonably be expected to provide, and which should be the responsibility of other agencies.
  • Schools may reasonably be expected to take on responsibilities such as providing technology for pupils, ensuring support detailed in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) is met, and reducing youth violence.
  • Around one in five schools run a food bank, according to a study by the University of Bristol.
  • The Government should invest properly in wider children's services and make sure its child poverty strategy tackles the issues the poorest families are facing.
  • The ASCL is calling for a clear strategy that maps out who is responsible for different services in local areas.

Statistics:

  • 21% of schools run a food bank, according to a study by the University of Bristol (Source: University of Bristol).
  • Schools are being expected to provide a wide range of societal responsibilities, including 50-60 different services, according to the ASCL report (Source: ASCL).

Sources:

  • Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) report (no specific date mentioned)
  • University of Bristol study (no specific date mentioned)
  • Julie McCulloch, director of strategy at ASCL, cited in the report.

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