HCC Head to take part in London protest Friday 28 September

A previous action by Headteachers at Downing St, London. HCC Head, Ms Barlow is at the front above the Y.

As reported on BBC TV news last night, this Friday 28 September, the Heathfield Community College , Headteacher, Ms Barlow, will be joining hundreds of other Headteachers from across the country in support of a mass event intended to gain much improved funding for all schools.

A recent letter to parents, from Mr Richard Karn, Chair of Governors, explained their support for the action and that: ” Headteachers  remain steadfastly determined, relentlessly reasonable and act without any political bias. All of which have been the hallmarks of their campaign work to date. You will be aware of the challenges that schools up and down the country are facing. A mixture of rising costs and stresses on other support services has meant that for many years we have been asked “to do more with less”. Under a challenging period of austerity for the Government we understand that there is not a bottomless pit of money. Accordingly, schools have played their part to work even harder and with greater efficiency on behalf of the children and families that we serve. ”

Headteachers are reporting across the country that matters are unsustainable. Frequently, they do not have enough money to meet the demands placed on schools. On the ground, services and resources are cut to the bone and class sizes are increasing. At times, some schools have had to prop up their budgets with monies that should be targeted at those students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, or those that have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Started by a group of Sussex Headteachers a campaign group called ‘Worth Less?’ have shone a light on the funding difficulties that they are facing. They acknowledge that the Government should be given credit for introducing a new National Funding Formula. Unfortunately, however, the formula itself is not adequately resourced/funded and therefore their budgets remain in an unacceptably poor state.

Further proof came from the Institute for Fiscal Studies who echoed what Headteachers have been saying for a long time and confirmed that, in real terms, school budgets have been reduced by 8% since 2010 .

Headteachers will gather at Downing Street tomorrow, to request that the Chancellor and his colleagues at the Department for Education use the upcoming autumn statement to invest properly in our schools and your child’s education. Many of the real terms cuts to our budgets should be reversed and urgent investment is required for SEND and post-16 budgets.

Mr Karn’s letter ended on this note: “The support that we have enjoyed from parents and carers, and our local MPs who have lobbied on this issue, has been very welcome and we will continue to update you on all of our forthcoming actions. We are determined to campaign until a much better and fairer settlement is reached in order to support your child/children and the future prosperity of the country as a whole.”