Head tells of funding crisis
A Horsham headteacher has spoken out about how Government funding cuts have affected his school.
Alex Bird, head of St Mary’s CE Primary School, was speaking after letters went out last week to every parent of schoolchildren in the county.
Parents have rallied, he said, to help buy books, pay for IT upgrades and fund stationery, whiteboards - and more.
He said: “I started in my post a year and a half ago. Inheriting a school that was struggling in many ways, especially on the academic results front.
“During my first month in post I had to let my team know that not only was I asking a great deal of them in terms of changing working practices and managing this change, but that we were facing financial concerns too (which can only significantly add to stress levels).
“Fortunately, I had support staff who were looking for a change and were happy to move to pastures new or take a cut in hours.
“Obviously the appointment of a new head tends to be the catalyst for changes in teachers within a school too. In appointing new teachers to my team I have had to have what I consider to be a dishonourable conversation with each of them. Explaining that although you are currently at this point on the teachers’ pay scale (points often achieved through blood, sweat and tears) I can only afford to appoint you at a lower grade.
“Thankfully, those teachers have been willing to make such sacrifices to be part of our school community.
‘‘And boy do they work sacrificially, I am regularly turfing them, and teaching assistants working way beyond their paid hours, out of school at ‘silly o’clock’.
“The governors and parent body have rallied round my incredibly hard working staff, doing whatever they can to help our school be the best it can.’’
Mr Bird added: ‘‘We have been blessed as West Sussex County Council has helped to protect us from the full impact of the funding formula since my arrival, but we will feel the full effect in the not too distant future.
“This has given us time to cut, cut, cut and avoid going into deficit and to consider any changes that we can make that will save money while have as little negative impact on our children as possible - thanks to the support of the whole school community and answers to a very great many prayers!”
To read Mr Bird’s comments in full visit https:// www.wscountytimes.co.uk/ news/school-funding-crisishorsham-head-speaksout-1-8841143