Headteacher warns of increasing pressure on school services for students in East Sussex

A recent survey conducted by ‘Worth Less?’ has gained fresh insight into the state of England’s schools and academies since the introduction of the new National Funding Formula (NFF).   The organisation represents over 60 Local Authorities and Boroughs with a reach to several million families.

The survey of unprecedented size and scope has gained the views of 2000 serving headteachers working in the special, secondary and primary sectors from all over England.

The headline statistics make worrying reading:

• 87% of headteachers say they have less money in real terms than last year (2017-18)
• 72% of headteachers say that their school’s budget is more likely to go into deficit in 2019-20 compared to previous years
• 94% of headteachers say their schools are now routinely delivering services previously provided by their Local Authority
• 84% say capacity to meet SEND needs are much reduced
• 80% say teachers are making personal financial contributions  to support pupils in their schools and the amounts are rising
• 74% of primary school heads say parents contributions are important to supporting school budgets
• 74% of secondary schools have reduced their curricular offer in KS4 and KS5
• 2% of headteachers don’t have trust in what the DfE says about overall school budget

We wanted to find out how this could be impacting on the education of children in the area; so we spoke to Caroline Barlow, Headteacher of Heathfield Community College, the large secondary school and sixth form college which serves Heathfield and the surrounding villages. She explained:

“The survey released on Friday showed that the 2000+ Headteachers canvassed are hugely concerned about the impact of school budgets on children and families.  Even the most recent injection of £1.25m for SEND nationally does not come close to the current shortfall of £4.8m.

“Statistics from independent bodies like the IFS made clear in July that schools are 8% worse off in real terms since 2010, and on Friday the EPI flagged that one third of maintained schools are setting deficit budgets, both show that there is a real issue with funding.

“In East Sussex we are receiving £112 less per pupil funding than in 2013/14 but there are over 14,000 more school age children who have entered the system.

“This will now be compounded by the impact of reduced local government funding. As East Sussex County Council releases its core offer today, what we know is, that will mean less early stage help for children who need it and less support for families. Longer waits for EHCPs, reduced support for children struggling with behaviour or mental health. If you combine that with the reality that schools are struggling and many not currently managing to cope on current budgets, and cutting provision to try and make ends meet; it is often the early stage support work that is under pressure as schools try and protect teaching and learning. It is a reality that children and families who are struggling that will suffer the most, especially in rural areas like ours where transport to towns and support is limited without cars.

“We hope to get the message out there by profiling the significant support that we have at Heathfield, the investment in training for pastoral support staff and the preventative work we do with well-being to try and equip young people to be successful. Students at Heathfield understand how support is provided and acknowledge how valuable that support is to them; they share our concerns that this is under threat across East Sussex with the combined pressure on funding at local government and school level.

“As ever I welcome the support from all of the local community, especially students and parents.”

To see the survey in full please click on the link below

https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-PPBQRBM2V/