Budget cuts hit school

BUDGET blow . . . Rushcroft Primary School

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CUTS to staff, after-school activities and help for struggling pupils is the stark reality facing an Oldham primary this September.

Head teacher Jane Sheridan has written to parents to outline the impact of budget cuts and rising costs such as pensions and the apprenticeship levy on Rushcroft Primary School in Shaw.

But she said that many schools were in the same position ­- and that it had actually managed to stave off the full impact for longer than some.

Rushcroft, which was praised as "good" by Ofsted in April, is the Oldham primary which has been hardest hit by a controversial changes to funding.

In the letter on behalf of school governors, Mrs Sheridan writes: "Due to changes in the way schools are funded the school governors have been trying to stave off staffing cuts for the last few years to make the budget balance. You might have noticed we have had a freeze on replacing school staff for the last 18 months, which has already led to a reduction in teachers and support staff.

"With the further reductions to our budget this year, I regret to inform you that we will be losing even more school staff. At the end of July seven members of staff are leaving and 10 members of staff are having their hours reduced."

From September, all teachers will be assigned to a class and the letter adds: "There will be no teachers to provide reading and writing interventions or provide extra support for pupils with learning needs across the school.

"We have also had to reduce the number of teaching assistants, and those that remain have had their hours reduced. Not every class will have a teaching assistant next year and those that do will not have them for the whole day."

All office staff have had their hours reduced and staff cuts will have affect on voluntary after school activities they run.

"It will also have an impact on the support we currently provide for children who do not complete homework or practise their reading at home," the letter continues.

"Over the last few years, we have tried to support families wherever possible but unfortunately, school can no longer afford to fund parents who do not pay their bills. Parents who owe more than one week's dinner monies will have to supply sandwiches for their child.

"Parents contracted to pay music fees must pay instalments promptly or the debt will be referred to the council debt collection department."

Mrs Sheridan, who has also had her hours cut, told the Chronicle that children who are struggling would still receive help and support, but not to the same extent.

She said: "The governors have worked really hard for the last two or three years not to be in this position. We have been lucky up to now.

"A lot of schools went through this process last year and they have been very helpful."

She also paid tribute to staff, adding: "It's not been a very nice year. When Ofsted came in we had started this process and the staff knew there were going to be redundancies, they did not know if their jobs were secure.

"But through it all they gave everything, they still are, even the people who are leaving next week. It's the kind of staff they are.

"Next week is going to be sad but the people who are left will come back fighting and determined to do the best for the children."

Tony Harrison, joint secretary of Oldham National Union of Teachers, described the cuts as "truly shocking" but said: "As sad as this news is, it is neither surprising nor untypical of what is happening in Oldham or the country as a whole. Although Rushcroft is among the worst hit the cuts on almost all Oldham schools are almost as crippling.

"The NUT estimates that Rushcroft will lose an amount equivalent to £574 per pupil over the next three years but the average cut to all Oldham schools is estimated to be £480 per pupil.

"These are shocking figures that will create despair in schools throughout Oldham and up and down the country. Far from being the levelling up of funding that councils and heads have demanded, the Government is levelling down and schools across the country face real terms cuts.

"It is impossible to deliver an effective education to pupils if there is no money for staff, buildings, resources, materials, activities or a full subject choice. Parents and school governors should unite with teachers in demanding the Government fund our education properly. This is no way to run an education system. More money needs to be given to our schools to give the country an education system it can be proud of."