Dear MPs…We’ve Bent Over Backwards to be the School your Government Wants, But we Need More Money
Schools are right in the centre of a perfect storm of funding cuts, and we need some reassurance that this has been recognised, says Rebecca Stacey
I wanted to draw your attention to the very human problem we have at the centre of our communities. It’s not just about schools, but it just so happens that schools are at the centre of this perfect storm of, well, cheapness.
Consider a rural area (which is where I am) – library services minimal; pubs (which often doubled as post offices and shops) closing; food prices rising. All of this affects schools.
In fact, this no longer affects just rural areas. I have had the pleasure of working both in inner city and rural schools and I know how it can impact all communities.
Consider this: infant school meals now cost way more money than the government provides for them.
This year we have had to apply for grants to cover the cost of new books for our library (yes, not grants for fun and frills, just the basic stuff). The continued increase in costs for wages has meant we have to think twice before implementing the extra nursery provision you so desperately want of us.
Recently we have been asked to consider how much extra we would pay our local council for school nurses – despite mental health being such a priority that last year all of our staff went on a first aid for mental health course.
Yes, you see, the problem is that schools bend over backwards to be all the things you want us to be. Yes, we’ve sourced locally produced meat, ensured our breakfasts are healthy and worked hard to put cooking back into the primary curriculum.
We’ve cleverly implemented the use of technology to bring international elements into the classroom, while at the same time ensuring that ‘British values’ are emphasised and our children know how to stay safe online.
We’ve promoted a love of reading, trying hard to make the best of our ageing book stock and bought in brand new books and textbooks for a new curriculum.
Oh yes, don’t get me started on the cost to schools of the new curriculum, new assessment systems and new testing regimes. All of this, yes, all of those wonderful forward-thinking and huge system wide changes we did – and we’ve done very well – with less money. Less money.
Schools are in the middle of a perfect storm of problems. We’ve discussed assessment, Ofsted, governors, SEND funding and all sorts before.
All of this pales into insignificance though if schools are not actually open. This is the reality that many schools are facing – local headteacher associations are even talking about going to four day weeks because of funding issues.
I dread to think what Ofsted would make of that. The BBC is reporting specific issues with multi-academy trusts and expenditure, while in some areas, governors have talked about withdrawing their labour due to low pupil funding.
The fact is, without our PTA, much of the curriculum enrichment would disappear. Last year our PTA supported my school in delivering first aid training to all pupils as part of a focus on looking after ourselves.
They support extra events at Christmas and have also helped purchase books and IT equipment. Multiply this by thousands of schools across the country and you get an idea of the money involved.
Now we do full circle back to my first point – it’s not just school funding.
How long can parents keep supporting school fundraising when they themselves are facing hardship? How long can community nurses really continue to support the focus on health and wellbeing when the costs for training, resources and expert help continue to rise? Just how long will various local companies and charities continue to support schools?
Schools are right in the centre of this perfect storm and we need some reassurance that this has been recognised. We cannot continue to be the answer to societal problems. The ball, as they say, is in your court.
From Rebecca
Rebecca Stacey is headteacher at Castle Carrock Primary in Brampton, Cumbria. Find her at digitalclassrooms.co.uk and follow her on Twitter at @bekblayton.
