More schools could be forced to close early as funding crisis worsens, union warns

Thousands of headteachers have written to millions of families about cash shortages

More schools could be forced to close early as the funding “crisis” continues to worsen, a headteachers’ union has warned.

The intervention comes as 7,000 headteachers have written to millions of families about cash shortages in schools. They claimed requests to meet education secretary Damian Hinds were rejected due to time pressures.

One headteacher said she has been forced to clean toilets and serve food in the canteen to make ends meet – and her pupils have also helped hoover the school amid intense budget pressures.

A number of schools have shortened, or are looking to shorten, the school day to save money.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has said it is “highly likely” that even more schools will follow suit unless more funding is awarded.

His comments came after Labour MP Jess Phillips tweeted about her son’s school in Birmingham having to close early on Fridays. Last month, a cash-strapped school in Stockport announced a half day.

Mr Barton said: “We have warned in the past that schools were considering closing early on at least one day a week because of the intense pressure on school budgets. Reports in the media indicate this has now come to pass with several schools shutting early on Fridays, or consulting on doing so. The government only has itself to blame.”

He added that it was extremely difficult for schools whose budgets had been “cut to the bone” to continue to provide the planning, preparation and assessment time needed by teachers.

“Closing early on one afternoon enables a school to provide teachers with this important time and saves the cost of employing additional staff or supply cover. It is highly likely that we will see more schools following suit as the funding crisis continues to worsen,” he said.

His warning came on the same day that headteachers, who are part of the Worthless? campaign group, wrote to parents about the school funding crisis.

Siobhan Lowe, head of Tolworth girls’ school in Surbiton, Surrey, said she has been forced to clean the school, wash the toilets, serve in the canteen, and can no longer afford a deputy headteacher.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “It’s a terribly embarrassing thing to admit that you don’t have the money, because you need to provide an education for the students.”

Ms Lowe added: “The parents are so supportive. I’m having to write to them on a regular basis and they are having to pay for things like printing. They are having to provide books for the students.”

Alex Bird, head of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Horsham, West Sussex, said money was so tight that parents had made cash contributions to the school.

He said: “Beyond this, we also have an Amazon wishlist for parents to purchase individual items to help keep the school running as efficiently as possible. Since its launch we have had stationery items including glue sticks, string, Sellotape, maths resources, a bookcase, whiteboards, balance bikes and nativity costumes.”

Another headteacher, Jules White, who organised the schools funding campaign letter, said: “I think schools will continue to make cuts and contingencies in a range of areas if we do not receive meaningfully improved long-term financial investment.

“We’ve already seen very unpalatable cuts to provision, and now we are seeing schools in Stockport and Birmingham making the awful decision of having to close early in order to make ends meet.”

Angela Rayner, shadow education secretary, said: “Thousands of headteachers have raised their concerns with the secretary of state, yet he and his government have buried their heads in the sand. The fact is these cuts have consequences, with a curriculum narrowing and teacher numbers falling.”

The Department for Education (DfE) has said school funding in England is at its highest ever level, rising from almost £41bn in 2017/18 to £43.5bn by 2019/20.

A DfE spokesperson said: “Any changes made to the school day need to be reasonable, and parents need to be adequately consulted before changes are made so they can make alternative arrangements for childcare.

“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 headteachers, and their local authorities, to make the most of every pound.”