Council cuts lead to 23 teacher and 26 teaching assistant jobs lost

Council budget cuts have led to dozens of teaching and teaching assistant jobs in schools across Wrexham.

New data shows that as of May 8 2024, 23 schools (22 primary, 1 secondary) were “managing reduction to staffing”.

A total of 23 Teachers cut, broken down as: Compulsory Redundancy – 3 Voluntary Redundancy -10 End of Fixed Term Contract -10.

A total of 26 Teaching Assistants have been cut, broken down as: Compulsory Redundancy – 3 Voluntary Redundancy – 11 End of Fixed Term

The most recent Wrexham Council workforce monitoring report shows that as of February 2024 there were 1089 teachers and 1521 non-teaching staff employed across schools in Wrexham.

It comes as a result of the Wrexham Council’s education budget for the current financial year being cut by £5.4m (five per cent).

The figures have been provided in a report due before members of the lifelong learning scrutiny committee on Thursday 11 July

The report states: “As schools are in the process of planning for the academic year 2024/25 the impact of the budget cut, at this point in time, is evidenced by: A likely increase in the schools forecasting a budget deficit position. An increase in the number of staff subject to redundancy redeployment process”.

“Work is progressing well in supporting schools with setting a planned budget for the 2024/25 financial year. A robust process is in place to ensure all plans submitted are scrutinised to ensure they are realistic and deliverable.”

“The economic outlook for councils over the next three years is forecast to be exceptionally challenging. In the financial year 2023/24, rising costs, pay and demand pressures outstripped funding.”

The council have at times been sensitive when Wrexham.com has described £5.4m being cut from education being described as a ‘cut’.

The maths is detailed in the report before councillors this week (below), along with a reminder to how the issue was described at Executive Board where the budget process was debated.

The year on year budget increased by £5.7m however had a £5.4m ‘saving’ as part of the wider council budget process.

The council notes: “The budget for schools represents over one third of the council’s total revenue budget and given the current level of funding pressure, it is not possible to protect school budgets to the extent they have been in recent years.

“It is recognised that the application of the 5% budget saving and increased pressures within the education system has placed school leaders in an extremely difficult position.

“There are significant concerns across the system that this will affect the educational offer for all learners.

“This picture is common to all local authorities in Wales.”

The Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee are set to examine the matter later this week.

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