Home » Concerns over specialist teacher shortages as Powys prepares for 2027 curriculum

Concerns over specialist teacher shortages as Powys prepares for 2027 curriculum

WILL cash-strapped Powys schools have the specialist teachers needed to teach the breadth of subjects that will form a new curriculum that comes into force in Wales in 2027.

At a meeting of the Powys County Council’s Learning and Skills scrutiny committee on Wednesday, January 29 councillors and independent lay members went through next year’s budget proposal for schools and the education department.

A proposed funding injection of £7.43 million into the school’s delegated budget is part of overall budget proposals by the Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet for 2025/2026.

This means that schools will receive £96.39 million next year which is up from this year’s £88.96 million.

The cash injection is a bid to bring down predicted deficits in schools by over £10 million by the end of March 2027.

Cabinet member for education, Liberal Democrat, Cllr Peter Roberts said that this funding boost means the school’s funding formula is now “fully funded.”

Conservative Cllr Lucy Roberts was concerned that in order to produce balanced budgets schools were having to cut staff.

She believed and that this could have consequences in the future especially for those pupils embarking on their GCSEs.

Cllr Lucy Roberts (Pic: Powys County Council)

Cllr Roberts said: “If we’re cutting staff numbers this year and then looking to increase the number of subjects available in future years it doesn’t seem to make sense.”

Head of learning and school improvement, Anwen Orrells said: “We do have ongoing evaluation of the funding formula.

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“Part of the work we are currently doing is understanding the impact of the national changes and what we may require doing to address that.”

She said that a report would be brought in front of the committee later this year to consult with them on any proposed changes to the formula.

Cllr Roberts said: “That doesn’t really explain how you can be confident that schools will actually manage within the funding formula, particularly if you are having to review it.

“That suggests that schools will struggle.”

Mrs Orrell said: “The curriculum changes come in from September 2027.

“That’s when the additional vocational subjects are coming through.

“It’s why we’re looking at it now and why we’re bringing that consultation forward with you this summer or early autumn.”

Cllr Roberts asked: “Are you confident that schools who are having to make significant cuts are actually able to provide the breadth of curriculum that they should be providing?”

Mrs Orrell explained that more work being done in the “background” with some schools that are “struggling” and to understand their financial pressures.

Recommendations from the committee will be added to the budget papers that will go in front of councillors at a meeting on February 20 when they vote on the overall budget.

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