TEACHING unions have criticised the government after a Sutton Trust survey found more than two in three senior leaders in schools have had to cut back on teaching assistants this year.

The online poll also found that one in three senior leaders cut teaching staff and nearly half cut support staff.

Teaching assistant cuts were highest in primary schools, while more secondary schools suffered greater losses in teaching and support staff.

National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “It is shocking that three quarters [of primary schools] are having to reduce numbers of teaching assistants, just to make ends meet.

“It is striking, too, that the Sutton Trust’s latest survey finds that half of schools are redeploying pupil premium money to plug gaps elsewhere. 

“This government is not serious about education. It must wake up to the reality in schools up and down the country and provide the funding that is needed to allow schools to fully deliver the service they want to provide and that parents rightly expect.” 

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “These figures provide further evidence of the deepening crisis this government has created in our schools.

“Children and young people from less affluent backgrounds especially are missing out on access to a broad and balanced education which is increasingly dependent on parents’ ability to pay.

“Pupils are being failed by this government. Ministers have refused to invest what it takes to provide a world-class education.

“Children and young people need a new government that will deliver the lasting solutions to fix our broken schools.”

The Department for Education said: “We are increasing school funding to £60.7 billion this year, the highest level ever in real terms per pupil, to support school leaders meet their costs.”