Schools plan short-time working

Heads threaten to cut hours as ministers resist demands to increase edu cation budget

Growing numbers of schools are considering part-time schooling for their pupils it emerged last night, as the Chancellor, Kenneth Clarke, reinforced the message that the Cabinet would resist demands to increase the education budget.

Both headteachers' unions yesterday reported a growing number of calls from heads whose governing bodies are considering a shorter working week, as spending cuts bite over the next three years Some are losing teachers and want shorter hours for pupils toavoid increasing class sizes. Others are asking if they can shorten teachers' working weeks and pay them less rather than making several teachers' redundant.

Russell Clarke, assistant general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said yesterday: "I don't think talking about short-time working is unrealistic. Government forecasts suggest there will be cuts of 12 per cent over the next three years. It is difficult to see how schools could carry on full-time."

The National Association of Head Teachers says some governors see the shorter working week as an alternative to setting a deficit budget or resigning en masse. One caller said his school was considering offering the same amount of lesson time but shortening breaks so teachers would only be paid until 1pm.

Despite the warnings of cuts, Mr Clarke, John Major and Gillian Shephard, the Education Secretary, made it clear there would be no increase in the education budget at the Cabinet tomorrow to pay for the 2.7 or 2.8 per cent rise recommended by the teachers' pay review body.

Mrs Shephard failed last week to win more from the Treasury, and it appeared last night she had accepted the Chancellor's insistence that the schools had enough money to fund the pay rises. David Blunkett, Labour's shadow Education Secretary, said the Chancellor's remarks amounted to a "slap-down" for Mrs Shephard.

"In my opinion, county councils have the resources to make proper provision for school budgets if they manage their affairs in a sensible fashion," said Mr Clarke. That message was reinforced by John Major in the Commons when he rejected criticism by Paddy Ashdown, the Liberal Democrat leader, and said the Audit Commission had identified significant scope for savings in schools. Answering a Labour Commons debate, Mrs Shephard attacked "scare stories" about cuts.

She said education spending was being raised by 1.1 per cent and local education authorities could not be immune from tough decisions and economic reality. "LEAs do face very tough decisions but they are in the best position to decide their priorities," she said.

A spokeswoman for the NAHT said it was advising members that a governing body could not legally shorten the length of the school day or pay teachers less.

She said: "We don't believe it is the job of governors or heads to get the Government out of its difficulties. We don't think proposals for a shorter week are realistic, particularly because they would be unpopular with parents if children were arriving home at two rather than three."

But Tory backbenchers are prepared to back the Cabinet. They have been upset by a letter campaign by pupils, and believe LEAs have imposed bigger cuts than necessary.

Most local authorities have not budgeted for the teachers' pay increase.

Counting the cost, page 3