Sheffield headteachers to join mass rally outside Parliament against funding cuts

Staff at All Saints Roman Catholic High School show their support the campaign to ensure all city schoolchildren are given their fair share of funding for education

Around 17 leaders will join 1,000 headteachers from around the country for the rally outside Parliament before they deliver a petition to Downing Street calling on the Government to fairer fund schools.

It comes amid a growing funding crisis in Sheffield which could see staff losing their jobs, class sizes increased and a schools cutting down to four-and-a-half weeks.

Staff at Bradway Primary support the funding campaign

The Government’s new national funding formula, aimed at redistributing funding to historically underfunded areas, helps the situation and will lead to an overall increase in funding for Sheffield.

Sheffield school leaders warn of 'brutal' staffing cuts if 'appalling' funding g...

Rob Kelsall, national secretary for the National Association of Head Teachers, said it was great to see so many headteachers from Sheffield had registered to take part in the march on September 28.

He said: "It is clear that the Chancellor is out of touch with what’s going on in schools up and down the country.

Staff at Royd Nursery Infant School support the fair funding petition

"Our schools are on their knees when it comes to funding.

"We’ve seen per pupil funding being cut by almost eight per cent since 2010.

"Compared to last year schools have 5,400 fewer teachers, 2,800 fewer teaching assistants and 2,600 fewer support staff.

"It’s crucial that Downing Street listens to the concerns of those running our schools.

"It’s great to see that Sheffield headteachers are travelling to London to make the case for a reversal to funding cuts.

"Education is an investment in the nations children and young people.

"Schools of today are the nations economy of tomorrow.

"Funding our schools should never be seen as a burden on the taxpayer."

The Star and Sheffield Telegraph has launched a petition calling on the Government to redress the funding issue in Sheffield, bringing together Sheffield Council, Learn Sheffield, the city’s MPs, businesses, schools, community groups and residents to fight for fair funding.

The Department for Education said the NFF is intended to correct historic disparities in the system.

It added that Sheffield schools will receive an increase in funding of 6.6 per cent - equivalent to £20.4 million - when it is implemented in full by 2020/21.

To sign the petition click here.