Tel: 07590219746 - www.mistservices.co.uk
This scenario is one that many schools may well find themselves facing.
For some this is seen as a threat but for others it could well be an opportunity.
At the very least it should stimulate a very healthy discussion regarding
curriculum design and realisation. Demographic data is readily available
and you should be able to get predictions of your likely intake several
years in advance. Downturns in pupils numbers should therefore not come
as a surprise and should allow you to be planning at least 2 to 3 years
in advance. Unfortunately not all timetablers, or those responsible for
curriculum planning, are given access to this data or fail to ask for it.
Failure to consider this data can result in stressful and painful situations
and can well delay the construction of the timetable. If redundancies are
necessary the various procedures that have to be followed can be extremely
lengthy and extend the timetabling season well into the summer holidays.
In extreme cases it means re-writing the timetable in the autumn term.
What can be done? Reductions in learner numbers mean reductions
in budget. Realistically this can normally only be achieved by reducing
staff numbers. There are a number of ways to achieve this:
No quick fixes There is no magic wand to resolve challenges
such as this and no quick fixes. When you start to analyse things in detail
you will find that you cannot simply remove 1 English teacher or 1 Geography
teacher. You might need to reduce overall English by 0.7 and Geography by
0.3. Reductions in staffing are likely to necessitate teachers sharing teaching
groups and you will end up with more split teaching than you have been used
to. Staff may well have to teach in more than one curriculum area. These
challenges are not insurmountable but they need careful thought and planning.
If things are thought about in detail sufficiently well in advance appropriate
training can be built in. Increasingly traditional subject teams may well
become challenged. A number of schools are now saying that in Y7 and Y8
they want 'teachers' first and 'subject specialists' second. In other words
they want a teacher who can teach across a number of subjects within a multi-disciplinary
team. If this team functions for 25% of the week in Y7 and includes a talented
Science teacher this could well have serious consequences for Science teams
higher up in the school.
There are some interesting times and challenges ahead!
Do you feel this might happen in your school?
If you feel that your school maybe facing a declining student intake or
facing a budget reduction due to other factors and would like to discuss
anything further please contact MIST Services. MIST Services works with
many schools, colleges and Academies each academic year, ultimately being
exposed to literally hundreds of curriculums and timetabling problems. Just
remember that if your school actually understands and is aware of the boundaries
and impacts this is half of the battle solved!
Tel: 07590219746 - www.mistservices.co.uk