School cuts ‘unkind and not British’, claims head

APRIMARY headteacher says she has already had to make £300,000 of savings before threatened government cuts are even imposed, including scrapping the school orchestra.

Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, of Anderton Park School, in Sparkhill, said she has had to let staff go and cut back on sports coaching to balance her books.

She was speaking at a Birmingham summit involving teachers, MPs, school unions, parents groups and Labour Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner, who are battling against the threat to cut £50 million from school spending in Birmingham.

Ms Hewitt-Clarkson said that rising costs meant she has had to make savings of £150,000 per year over the past two years.

“That’s the orchestra, five she said.

The head teacher said 85 per cent of the budget goes on staff and that government suggestions that they reduce back-office spending were patronising.

“I can’t save £200,000 buying cheaper photocopier paper,” she said. “It’s madness what we are expected to do. These cuts are sports coach, the teaching assistants,” untenable, unkind and ish.”

She is the latest head to speak out on the cuts.

Last week seven Erdington head teachers published a report arguing against cuts, warning that valued extra services for hard-up families will be lost.

Labour Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: “The money going into schools is not adequate, it’s not enough. We’re losing teachers, we’re losing support staff. it’s not Brit-

I can’t save £200,000 buying cheaper photocopier paper... it’s madness

“Our young people are not getting the education they deserve and our economy is not getting the investment it deserves.”

Ms Rayner added that the government was cutting education, while the economy was crying out for skilled workers and had to import them from abroad.

Ms Rayner called on the Chancellor to close tax loopholes and invest the money in education.

Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, of Anderton Park School