Parents urged to protest with Melton schools set to be hit by big budget cuts

The government’s plans to slash its education spending in next month’s budget will mean head teachers in town schools will have to manage with up to 12 per cent less money each year while heads in rural schools face having their purse strings tightened by up to 29 per cent.

The Leicestershire branch of the National Union of Teachers has now called on parents to help it fight the cutbacks.

Assistant secretary Pauline Town said: “We have serious concerns about the funding crisis across Leicestershire schools.

“Despite the government’s promise to protect school funding and their recent proposals to reform the national funding formula, the county’s schools are this year still down at the bottom of the pile.

“We strongly urge all parents to raise their concerns with their local MP, ask him to support the NUT campaign for better real funding for all schools, and in particular for Leicestershire schools, before the government sets its budget in March.“

The NUT say the National Audit Office has confirmed an every pupil in Leicestershire will suffer an eight per cent reduction in funding.

Parents can find out exactly how much funding their child’s school would lose if the Budget is approved by going online to the union’s new website www.schoolcuts.org.uk and typing in its postcode.

The NUT’s figures show the following cuts for Melton schools: Swallowdale Primary School 12%, The Grove Primary School 12%, St Mary’s CofE Primary School 11%, St Francis Catholic Primary School 10%, Brownlow Primary 8%, John Ferneley College 6%, Long Field Academy 4%.

Selected figures for annual budget cuts in village schools: Somerby 29%, Ab Kettleby 25%, Wymondham 22%, Waltham 19%, Redmile 15%, Thrussington 15%, Great Dalby 14%, Asfordby Hill 13%, Frisby 13%, Scalford 11%, Queniborough 13%, Whissendine 11%.

Mrs Town added: “Many county secondary schools are suffering in particular from cuts to 16+ funding, and the changes to their age range.

“Early years funding changes planned will affect county primary schools.

“Several of our small village primary schools are also becoming less viable, despite the government’s pledge to protect them.

“It (the cuts) does mean redundancies of both teaching and support staff, larger classes and less support for individual children.

“All of which, along with other cuts, will have a knock-on effect to children and young people’s education in the county.”

l Are you concerned about the effects the proposed cuts might have on the quality of your child’s education? Email us with your views at [email protected] or call us on 01664 412520.