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Friday 07.10.2016 thedistrictpost.co.uk
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Head teachers take on Government over cuts phil dennett News Editor
Children in West Sussex schools could have their lessons cut because of a money crisis. Angry headmasters across the county have warned they might also consider other measures unless the Government gives West Sussex County Council about £20 million to stave off a serious situation. The challenge from Conservative-dominated West Sussex is a potential embarrassment for the Conservative government, although school leaders say their challenge is across the political spectrum. Among those protesting at the poor funding through the Worth Less? Campaign is Jules White, head of Tanbridge House School in Horsham. He told the Post: “School and academy leaders across West Sussex simply want
to do the best possible job for the children that we care for and educate. Over the past five years West Sussex children have received £200m less the average authority and £1billion less than the average London authority “At the moment, we are being denied the funds to carry out this duty. A new National Funding Formula is welcomed but significant interim funding is required now to tide us over until a better formula is in place. “As responsible and dedicated leaders, we will not do anything to disadvantage children or their families but we are being forced to consider really unpalatable options such as modifying school hours, raising teacher to pupil ratios to unacceptably high levels and adopting a curriculum offer which meets just basic requirements. “We are a non-political group and continue to be grateful for the support offered by our local MPs and the Leader of West Sussex County Council. All we
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are asking for is a sum of £20m interim funding which would still leave West Sussex £20m below the national average and £180m below the average funded London borough. This is the minimum that the children of West Sussex schools need and deserve for the new financial year April 2017.” Russell Hobby, general secretary of West Sussex-based school leaders’ union National Association of Head Teachers said: “We know that school budgets are at breaking point, leading to school leaders having to make difficult decisions in order to balance budgets. Many will be having conversations with parents and governors on what changes can be made to make ends meet. “NAHT has long campaigned for a fair funding formula in order to address the huge variations in budgets we currently see. We hope the proposed changes will help many schools, but urge the government to increase funding overall. Education spending should be viewed as an investment, not a cost.”
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