Heads appeal for funding
BVC Head of School Vickey Poulter has joined with colleagues across the country to ask parents for their support in lobbying for more cash for schools.
The repeated refusal of ministers to discuss school funding has resulted in headteachers issuing a letter to parents, accusing the Government for failing young people.
Ms Poulter said: “Unfortunately, despite intense lobbying of the Government and Department for Education, matters remain extremely challenging. Schools are still not being provided with adequate funding and resources to deliver the level of provision and support that is expected and that our families and children deserve.”
Experts say that since 2010 school budgets have been reduced in real terms by 8% and by 20% at post-16 with class sizes rising and schools are being asked to support children’s emotional health and wellbeing with inadequate resources.
Ms Poulter added:”Often, the most vulnerable students in our schools – those from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) – are bearing the brunt of cuts and schools are struggling to provide the levels of support that they are entitled to.
“These issues are not simply affecting a few schools. They are common features across our education system up and down the country.
“Levels of concern are so widespread amongst Headteachers that we are all working together to tackle the issue.”
As a group, Headteachers across England and Wales have written to the Secretary of State for Education on three separate occasions since September 2018. All requests were refused, with a junior civil servant confirming that “I am afraid that, on this occasion, the Secretary of State and the Minister of State must decline your offer to meet. I hope you will understand that their time is heavily pressurised and their diaries need to be prioritised according to ministerial, Parliamentary and constituency business.”
In January the Heads approached the Department again – six weeks later, this request was declined once more: “As I’m sure you will appreciate, both their diaries are very full and they are unable to accept your kind offer at this time.”
Ms Poulter commented: “Understandably, we simply do not understand what issues could be seen as more important than the ones we are raising on behalf of schools, children and families.
“My colleagues and I feel fortunate that we have been so strongly supported by parents and carers as we campaign for a much improved level of funding for our schools and pupils – however we would urge parents to continue to make representations to their local MP and to the Department for Education and wider Government to ensure that matters improve.
“A positive starting point should come from the Secretary of State for Education in the form of an urgent meeting.”