School PTAs plead with PM Theresa May to reconsider school funding cuts

The PTA representatives have written to the Prime Minister after becoming 'extremely concerned' with the new national funding formula proposals.

In the letter, they said: "Warrington has been one of the worst-funded authorities for a number of years already and currently sits tenth from bottom in the national funding tables.

"Despite this, our schools have continued to achieve and provide excellent levels of educational provision, which has been mainly due to the tireless efforts of the school staff and skilled financial management by head teachers and governing bodies.

"Repeatedly, we receive the message that overall spending for education is increasing but in Warrington the net effect is a continued loss of funding.

"63 out of 83 schools in Warrington will lose money under the proposed national formula despite the fact that we are already a poorly-funded authority.

"It is looking increasingly likely that many of our schools will not be in a financial position to maintain current teaching levels. 

"We, as PTAs, are faced with an uphill battle to fill the gap between the funding that will be provided compared to the basic amount a school will need to operate effectively. 

"We agree that certain factors such as deprivation need consideration but we also ask you to please consider the amount a school requires in order to function on a day to day basis, before a generation of children in our town suffer, the effects of which could take many decades to correct."

Here is the letter in full:

Dear Prime Minister,

We write to you as representatives of our respective Parent Teacher Associations within Warrington.    Parent Teacher Associations are independent charities run and supported by parents and the local communities of schools.  Their primary aim is to enable the provision of materials to enhance the learning environment for the children.

Across our town we are extremely concerned about the new national formula funding proposals which will see Warrington move further down the funding scale to the 4th worst funded authority out of 151 local authorities in the country.  Warrington has been one of the worst funded authorities for a number of years already and currently sits 10th from bottom in the national funding tables.    Despite this our schools have continued to achieve and provide excellent levels of educational provision which has been mainly due to the tireless efforts of the school staff and skilled financial management by head teachers and governing bodies.

Repeatedly we receive the message that overall spending for Education is increasing but in Warrington the net effect is continued loss of funding. 63 out of 83 schools in Warrington will lose money under the proposed national formula despite the fact that we are already a poorly funded authority.  It is looking increasingly likely that many of our schools will not be in a financial position to maintain current teaching levels. 

Parent Teacher Associations are already being asked to fund items and provision which in many areas is routinely provided from the school budget such as IT and Sports equipment.  We are now finding that we are being asked to fund specialist teaching time and special needs equipment.  Schools are also now commonly asking Parent Teacher Associations to fund the provision of equipment for crafts and libraries.  This is extremely worrying and also comes at a time when our local authority is consulting on the closure of most of our local library provision.

We, as Parent Teacher Associations, are faced with an uphill battle to fill the gap between the funding that will be provided compared to the basic amount a school will need to operate effectively.  A number of school buildings in Warrington are already in a poor state and diminishing funding levels will mean their upkeep becomes even less of a priority as head teachers and governing bodies target what little money they have towards maintaining staffing levels.

Our Parent Teacher Associations are run on the whole by small committees of dedicated parents most of whom work full time.  We fear the enormity of the task now facing us will deter future engagement leading to a further reduction in financial support for our schools at a time when they need it most.

Please listen to our request for the funding formula to be reconsidered.  We agree that certain factors such as deprivation need consideration but we also ask you to please consider the amount a school requires in order to function on a day to day basis, before a generation of children in our town suffer, the effects of which could take many decades to correct.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Mount & Emma Smith, Chairs, Appleton Primary School PTA

Nicola Woodyatt, Chair, Lymm High School PTA

Claire Norris, Chair, St Lewis’ Catholic Primary School PTA

Vicky Kelly, Chair, Statham School PTA

Anji Short, Chair, Oughtrington Primary School PTA

Joanne Hornby, Chair, Winwick Primary School PTFA

Amanda Hanson, Chair, Thelwall Infant School PTA

Kate Brookes, Chair, St Thomas’ Stockton Heath PTFA

Kate Linford, Chair, St Paul of the Cross School

Sarah Williams, Chair, Burtonwood County Primary School

Joanne Forde, Chair, Ravenbank Primary School

Nicola Ramage, Chair, Stockton Heath Primary school

Nicola Leech, Chair,  Friends of Sankey Valley St James CE Primary School

Lynda Rothwell, Chair, Bradshaw Primary PTA

Kate Brown, Chair, Grappenhall Heys Primary School PTA

Rebecca Ashworth, Chair, Bruche Primary School PTA

Sarah Darnton, Chair, Woolston CE Primary School PTA

Leanne Stott, Chair, Woolston Community Primary School PTA

Mark Swettenham, Chair, Cherry Tree PTA

Emma Maw, Chair, Twiss Green Primary School PTA

Sarah Leah, Chair, Great Sankey Primary School PTFA

Deborah Archer, Chair, Croft Primary School PTA

Sarah Bate, Chair, Sir Thomas Boteler PTA

Harriet Glenn, Chair,  Cobbs Infant School

Andrea Green, Suzanne Exley, Samantha McGerty,  Thelwall Junior School PTA

Sally Waton, Treasuer, St Andrews CE Friends, Parents and Community Group