London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Scottish school subjects could be axed due to cuts, union warns

Scottish school subjects could be axed due to cuts, union warns

Some school subjects will have to scrapped as a result of the Scottish government's budget, a teaching union chief has said.

The general secretary of School Leaders Scotland claimed the number of pupils per class would also rise, with teacher vacancies to remain unfilled.

It comes as Cosla warned of job losses and service cuts in local authorities.

The government says it will work with local authorities to "protect what matters in Scottish society".

Deputy First Minister John Swinney laid out the draft budget on Thursday, announcing a change to Scotland's tax rates that will put more of the burden on those earning more than £43,000.

He also pledged a £1bn increase in health and social care spending as well as a £550m year-on-year increase for local government.

However, analysis published by Cosla suggests the cash increase could be just £71m once Scottish government-mandated policies are paid for, while it claims capital funding will remain flat for next year.

The organisation had called for a £1bn cash injection to maintain current services and fund pay deals for staff.

Jim Thewliss, general secretary of the School Leaders Scotland union, said the spending plans would lead to cuts in schools.

"We are now at a stage where we really have a service where if you're going to start to cut any more you're cutting into the basic functions of the service, which is essentially … the number of teachers in front of young people in schools," he told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show.

"Vacancies which are already identified within schools - head teachers have been told these are not going to be filled."

Mr Thewliss said teachers across the country were expecting increases in class sizes and said some subjects would be removed if "deemed as non-viable".

He gave the example of higher modern languages subjects, which he said often had small class sizes of four or five pupils.

"We're now starting to find even greater pressure coming upon what is deemed as non-viable in terms of class sizes," the union chief told the programme.

He added: "We have bought entirely into the whole notion of young people having the best educational experience and the best life chances that they can have.

"We are now in the position … of managing expectations to a degree. And I've no idea where we're going to move with this but it's becoming much, much more challenging in managing those expectations at the same time as promoting aspiration."

Katie Hagman, an SNP councillor and Cosla resources spokesperson, said the budget announcement had been met with "extreme disappointment" after the organisation said it received less than a tenth of what it had asked for from the government.

She told The Sunday Show: "If we got the £1bn that would save, potentially, job cuts.

"What it translates to is equivalent of, say, 17,500 teachers. We're looking at essential services, things like youth work, things like economic development, working with our third sectors as well for domestic abuse and family support services.

"All these are considered essential services and we're at the front line of local government and it's these types of services that we will be desperately trying to protect."


'Bleak picture'


Mr Swinney defended his budget announcement but acknowledged he had set out a "bleak picture" in parliament.

He told the programme that the war in Ukraine had increased inflation and the financial stress had been "compounded by some of the significant strategic mistakes" by the UK government.

He disputed claims the councils had been short-changed, saying their funding had increased by £570m year-on-year.

In response to warnings of service and jobs cuts, he said: "Local government came to me and asked for £1bn and I said up front there was just no way I was going to be able to achieve that. But I have managed to put £570m into the local government settlement.

"I've said to local authorities we need to work together to ensure that we protect what matters in Scottish society, which is preventative early intervention services where we do our best to change the outcomes for people within our society."

While the Deputy First Minister said councils would have to be "open to the concept of public sector reform", he insisted education was the government's priority.

"There's sustained investment being made in local authority expenditure, there is sustained investment being made in the Scottish attainment challenge, sustained investment in early learning and child care, key elements of how we deliver the curriculum and how we ensure people are well supported and young people are well supported to fulfil their potential," Mr Swinney added.


Jim Thewliss said the Scottish government's spending plans would lead to cuts in schools

Deputy First Minister John Swinney defended his government's budget


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×