We need more cash
CASH CRISIS COULD AFFECT SAFETY IN CLASS
PARENTS paying for essential textbooks, bigger classes taught in crumbling classrooms - and the most vulnerable children no longer safe in schools.
These are the dire consequences Gateshead head teachers warn could come about if their schools aren’t given more Government funding.
Heads of schools across the borough have written to parents, asking them to sign a petition demanding Parliament offer more money for education.
The petition has gained over 20,000 signatures in less than two weeks and if it hits 100,000 will have to be debated in the House of Commons. Turning to parents for help in their funding campaign is an unusual step - but it’s one local school leaders say they’ve been forced to take.
Michelle Richards is head of Eslington and Furrowfield schools, both special schools in Gateshead. She says in 15 years of school leadership she’s always been able to balance the books - until now.
“Four out of the six special schools in Gateshead made redundancies in 2018,” she said.
“That’s because we just couldn’t get our budgets to work. We’ve cut everything we could, and now we’ve had to cut staff.
“We’re having to choose between things like having a counsellor, and having a teacher - the pastoral side is having to go, because we need teachers to stand up there in front of the children.
“We are desperate to give children the best education, but we are having to constantly compromise that education on a daily basis, at every level.
“All the special schools in Gateshead are good or outstanding, we have a really highquality provision, but to maintain that with less money and fewer staff, we will end up stretching the staff we have too far: this funding crisis is not sustainable.”
Schools like hers which support “the most vulnerable children” could be forced to have bigger classrooms with less individual support for each child, she warned. This could have consequences not only for education, but for safety.
Mrs Richards said: “Children are coming to us with more complex needs, we’re being squeezed at all ends.
“One school I’m aware of can no longer afford a school nurse - teachers are expected to carry out more and more invasive medical procedures.
“It’s about health and safety and safeguarding the children. At a certain point, schools might have to tell some of the most challenging children they can’t come to school, because they just won’t be safe.”
After making redundancies, Mrs Richards’ budget for the year is bal- anced, but there’s no surplus left for next year, and nothing to cover any unexpected crises, such as unforeseen repairs. Meanwhile, she’s had to cut back on some aspects of the curriculum, and parents now have to chip in to fund out-ofschool visits which were once offered for free. When an art teacher asked her to buy a few canvases for a project, she had to say no - there simply wasn’t any cash available.
In mainstream schools too, heads say they’re desperate for more money.
A n d r e w Ramanandi, head of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Blaydon, said schools could soon find themselves having to ask parents to fund essentials like text books if they don’t get more cash. More and more schools, he claims, are facing setting deficit budgets, while repairs to school buildings aren’t being done, equipment isn’t being renewed, and small group work and one-to-one support for children who are struggling is being slashed.
He said: “I honestly think that unless things change soon, education will get dramatically worse. As head teachers, we thought it was important to raise awareness and ask parents to support us.
“This isn’t just head teachers being bolshy because they want more money: we’ve got a duty of care to children and to the borough of Gateshead to have our voices heard.”
The Department for Education says per-pupil funding has increased for
At a certain point, schools might have to tell some of the most challenging children they can’t come to school, because they just won’t be safe MICHELLE RICHARDS
schools - but in their letter to parents, the heads called the Government’s picture of school funding “misleading, over-optimistic and inaccurate”.
They claim schools have had to contend with a 20% increase in costs, while receiving only a “very small” increase which they say has “not closed the gap”.
The Gateshead teachers’ fears have been echoed by unions and educators across the country.
Mike McDonald, regional secretary for the National Education Union, said: “Around the region, class sizes are rising as teachers and support staff are cut. Secondary schools are slashing subjects and pupils with special education needs are losing the support they need. Our children only go through school once and this Government is failing them.
“Enough is enough. In this context it is good to see heads speaking out, with the support of Gateshead Council, and encouraging parents and school staff to sign this petition.
“We must continue to work together to put pressure on the Government to give schools the funds they need to pro- vide the best education to our children.” Government argues it has made funding “fairer” across the country - but acknowledges budgets are still “tight”.
A Department for Education spokesperson said since 2017 every local authority has been given more cash per pupil, with the biggest increase for the most underfunded schools.
She added: “While there is more money going into our schools than ever before, we recognise the budgeting challenges schools face and that we are asking them to do more. That’s why we’re supporting schools and head teachers to make the most of every pound.
“Gateshead will receive an increase of 3.3% per pupil for its schools by 2019-2020, compared to 2017-18 funding levels - which is an increase of £4.4 million when rising pupil numbers are taken into account.
“Local authorities continue to have flexibility on how this funding is distributed across schools, and we expect Gateshead Council to take account of local circumstances when money is being allocated.”