Protest over parents coughing up to ease school funding crisis

PARENTS say state schools are asking them to make regular cash donations to stave off a funding crisis, a survey reveals.

One in six is being asked to pay up, some for activities which are part of the syllabus while others are parting with as much as £400 every year.

The survey said many parents felt pressured to pay, even though it was voluntary, while nearly a quarter had been put off a particular school because of the potential costs. Others said financial factors dictated which subjects their children chose.

Yesterday National Union of Teachers general secretary Kevin Courtney warned of strikes unless the Government increased school funding in the autumn Budget.

He said the profession could not be expected “just to sit back” while staff shortages and heavy workloads went unaddressed.

Seven unions, including that of head teachers, will lobby Parliament on June 6 about funding.

The survey by the NASUWT teaching union, holding its annual conference in Manchester this weekend, came amid complaints of a growing funding squeeze on English schools. The Government says school funding is at a record high but critics say that reflects the greater number of pupils, and a cash freeze since 2015 also amounts to a cut.

Meanwhile, Tory MPs are threatening to rebel against the Government’s proposed new formula for distributing education funding, which many authorities say will hit them hard.

The NASUWT survey of nearly 4,000 parents last December and January found 18 per cent had been asked to complete a standing order or direct debit.

Unlawful

Of these, just over half were told it was to enhance resources, 23 per cent that it was because of budget cuts, 18 per cent that it was to improve extra-curricular activities and nine per cent that it was for a specific project.

Of those revealing their donation, 61 per cent said they had given up to £50 a year, 19 per cent had paid between £51 and £100, 20 per cent more than £101 and six per cent more than £400.

Some 86 per cent said they had to buy pens and pencils, 21 per cent had been asked for paper and nearly a fifth were required to help buy computer equipment.

Five per cent said equipment costs affected what subjects their children chose to study. Fifteen per cent said costs kept their children from joining school trips in the past year. Of parents who had not been asked to make a regular contribution, 13 per cent still gave money because they thought they were expected to. Sixteen per cent paid voluntarily.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “It is not only unacceptable that curriculum options for pupils are being determined by whether their parents can pay for books, equipment or field trips, but also some of these practices may be unlawful.”

An Education Department spokeswoman said: “No parent is required to make a contribution to their child’s education.

“School funding is at its highest level on record, at almost £41billion in 2017-18.”

Workload and targets are making it tough for teachers to promote the “joy of learning”, NASUWT national president Fred Brown told the conference. He warned too many young teachers were leaving the profession.