South Yorkshire headteachers to join Downing Street march for more funding
They're joining more than a thousand in London today
South Yorkshire headteachers are joining hundreds from across the country today to demand a better funding deal from the government.
It's thought more than a thousand heads will march to Downing Street calling for more investment, better teacher recruitment and more support for disadvantaged students.
Cathy Rowland from Dobcroft Infant School in Sheffield's among those travelling down to London - she says she fears for the future of her school:
"I need to see that there isn't a cliff where my finances are about to fall off. I have to be able to plan knowing with confidence that I'm going to be able to meet the needs, not just now, but in the future. And I don't have that confidence. When I look at my budget three years hence, I do not know how I will balance it.
"It has to change because we're not talking about nice things around the edges of education, we're talking about fundamental things. In secondary schools they're narrowing the choices that some children can choose subject wise. This is our children's education we're talking about and it's too precious for me not to be going."
The headteachers will present a joint letter to the Chancellor demanding more investment in education.
Cathy says she's hoping the govenrment will take note:
"Listen to what we're saying. Right across the country, schools are struggling and we need them to readjust their budget. They can find money for other things, but they have to think about education.
"We're stretched. A simple example is last Thursday when the heavy rain came - because my school, the local authority says it needs a new roof but you don't get any money for that. As a headteacher I should be thinking about teaching and learning not 'have I got enough buckets, do I need to go to the local hardware store to buy some more for all the leaks in my school?'"
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
“There is more money going into schools than ever before, rising to a record £43.5 billion by 2020 – 50% more in real terms per pupil than in 2000. The OECD has recently confirmed that the UK is the third highest spender on education in the world, spending more per pupil than countries including Germany, Australia and Japan.
“Every school attracts more funding per pupil through the National Funding Formula, high needs funding has risen to over £6 billion this year and the 3.5% pay rise we announced for classroom teachers on the main pay range is backed by £508 million government funding.
“We know that we are asking schools to do more, which is why we are helping them to reduce the £10 billion spent each year on non-staffing costs, providing government-backed deals for things like printers and energy suppliers that are helping to save millions of pounds.”