In recent weeks you may have heard about the funding crisis in schools and the disagreements between schools, educators, campaigning groups and the government about how large the cuts really are.
For context, here are a few handy links:
- Schools funding has been cut by an average of 8% in real terms over recent years: https://goo.gl/KuxWoc
- Find out how much your local school (including HPS) is losing in real terms compared to three years ago here: https://goo.gl/oDbASt
Below is a letter to all parents from F40, the campaigning group supporting the lowest funded local authorities, which we have been asked to send home.
Dear Parent/Carer
Update – School Funding Campaign
Firstly, thank you for the huge support that you gave to Headteachers who campaigned for improved school funding at Westminster on Friday 28 September. Over 2000 head teachers attended in London with many more supporting their actions too.
It is clear from the emails that colleagues and I received, that parents overwhelmingly support the need for much improved investment in our schools. As soon as we receive a reply from the chancellor, we will let you know. I am sure everyone will watch with interest to see how he responds to our requests during the Autumn Statement (Budget) on Monday 29 October.
Following recent headlines, Headteachers across the country hope very much that the Government and the Department for Education, in particular, will stop providing parents and the wider public with misleading information about spending on schools. This week’s scathing letter (see link below) to the Department of Education from the UK Statistics Authority underlines all of the points that Worth Less? have repeatedly stated to parents over the past three years.
“I am sure you (The Department for Education) share my concerns that instances such as these do not help to promote trust and confidence in official data, and indeed risk undermining them.” Sir David Norgrove – Head of the UK Statistics Authority (8/10/18)
Frankly, it is entirely wrong to suggest that Government spending on schools is much higher than in other comparable countries, when the Department for Education tries to include spending made by families on university tuition fees (loans to students) and independent (private) school fees. This adds billions of pounds to headline data but has absolutely no effect on funding received by schools. It is a completely unacceptable way of defending real term cuts.
The Department for Education must now work hard to rebuild trust and credibility. We hope that ministers will apologise unreservedly and put all of their efforts into investing adequately into school funding and supporting much improved recruitment and retention of teachers.
Parents have also asked how they can support the drive for improved funding. In light of this we are able to let you know that parent groups have lobbied parliament (10 October) and there will also be a national day of parental action on 19 October. For more information about 19 October, please search #parentsteachersunite on Twitter or Facebook.
We would again like to thank you for your support and confirm that our campaign will remain reasonable and determined with a single goal of ensuring that every school and pupil receive a much better deal in the near future.