school finances situation in your child’s school.

[kafkesque]

Letter received today:

Updating you about school finances
I am sure you will have heard through news and topical radio/television programmes about the crises in school funding and I felt it important to update you about the situation in your child’s school.
Our school is also suffering financially and for a number of reasons. For example, the recent staff pay rises are not centrally funded, meaning we need to find thousands of pounds from this year’s budget. On the horizon, employer’s pension contributions will increase from 14% to 50% by September 2020, resulting in £140,000 to be found (annually) from our school budget. Some centrally funded support for September 2019 is promised, though not from this point onwards.
Schools are now charged for services that used to be free at the point of access. In addition, the needs of our pupils placed at The MSE continue to increase and as such, so do our costs for relevant resources (e.g. reading books, IT equipment and programmes as well as staffing and related training costs.) However, per-pupil funding levels are not keeping pace with the significant extra demands on the school. We know this funding argument is ‘won’ though have no confirmation as to whether any additional finances to support us will actually materialise.
On our doorstep, the cuts to other community services leaves vacuums, for which we find ourselves undertaking crucial pastoral work that would not otherwise be provided for our families.
If only the ‘little extras’ money promised in November’s budget could be for ‘extras’. If we cannot fundraise to meet such additional costs, we will have to make savings in other areas. Fundraising has been very successful at school, but as you can imagine, so many grants, trusts, company and private donors, do not want to spend money on school essentials like staffing, replacing toilets or worn-out flooring.
I am sure you are aware that Teaching Assistants, Teachers, Admin and Leaders at The MSE School regularly undertake unpaid overtime, though you may not be aware that this is often in excess of 30 additional (unpaid) hours per week. This is not just because of the love of the job, but to keep up with the immense demands placed on the school.
I do hope you that won’t find this pessimistic but I wanted to update you about the current situation as I do know you take a keen interest in your child’s education. We remain optimistic - the school continues to innovate and be highly resourceful.
Best wishes,

So we need an open and honest discussion, as a country. Do we want education to at least remain at the same standard and if so, are we prepared to pay for it?

I agree, but this won’t happen whilst the government are saying everything is just fine.

My Dcs are at a rural comp. There's plenty of poverty in the area but plenty of very monied people too.

Occasionally the begging bowl comes around for our school. I donate happily because I can afford a bit. Some people contribute a big sum. Others, naturally pay nothing because they can't. This is fine. We're a comp. we pay for all.

I would happily pay a tax each to my dcs particular school. Not private school fees level, but maybe a £150? There's 1,250 pupils at the school. If some paid more, some less, I reckon that over 180k that could be raised each year.

Of course we shouldn't need to. It's appalling Head teachers even have to ask. But I'm willing. The school they provide is great.

Clavinova
If the letter from the head teacher is genuine - then he/she is a very poor manager.

I you opinion.

You don't let your staff regularly undertake overtime in excess of 30 additional (unpaid) hours per week and then 'guilt trip' the parents

Schools have always relied on the good will of teachers to get things done, from marking to sporting events. It has always been standard to do this. The difference now is that teachers are no longer willing to give up their time due to how they are treated and percieved by the press and public.

Why are the school asking for donations of tea, coffee and soft drinks?
They ask for everything. That's why I though my re-use shop was a good idea.

If the letter from the head teacher is genuine - then he/she is a very poor manager.

It is genuine. After the PTA raised £170,000 last year as they do close to that most years.

than you’re probably willing to give, given your general attitude.

Yes, it probably changed when they cut the school day by half an hour. Parent's had to rearrange their working day and were only given one terms notice. School closes at 2.30 now. To all you people calling me a GF is that what you want to see. Cuts closing your schools earlier.

You don't let your staff regularly undertake overtime in excess of 30 additional (unpaid) hours per week and then 'guilt trip' the parents

Schools have always relied on the good will of teachers to get things done, from marking to sporting events. It has always been standard to do this. The difference now is that teachers are no longer willing to give up their time due to how they are treated and percieved by the press and public

Nonsense - no competent head teacher would allow non- management staff to regularly work 30 hours of unpaid overtime per week within their knowledge - the class teacher would be assigned a mentor to help them manage their workload better.

Clavinova

And the mentor would be?

Another teacher that would have unpaid mentoring time added to their workload. Of course this would also increase the workload of the teacher that is also working extra hours, thus adding more unpaid overtime to them as well.

the PTA raised £170,000 last year

WTF, is your school filled with millionaires? I dont believe the school could be in poverty with such rich generous parents. The head must be pissing money away.

Nonsense - no competent head teacher would allow non- management staff to regularly work 30 hours of unpaid overtime per week within their knowledge - the class teacher would be assigned a mentor to help them manage their workload better.
Bollocks.

I taught an able group last year and a weak group the year before that. Mock deadlines are mock deadlines even though the class of 7-9 grade students took vastly longer to mark due to being a class of 32 longer papers vs 20 much shorter ones.
I mean my head could have paid supply to cover my lessons so I didn't have to do all those extra hours.. oh wait. Money.

Schools have always relied on teacher goodwill to get things done. I have a good work life balance by teaching standards but that's because I'm in a school that is doing what it can. It still means some weeks are heavy (especially if you teach lots of KS4/5 vs someone teaching ks3 practical subjects).

Not only that but where does the mentor come from? I'm trained as a staff development coach and all coaching is outside the school day, for free.

You don't seem to get how schools work.

Not only that but where does the mentor come from?

The same way they deal with competency matters I guess.

WTF, is your school filled with millionaires? I dont believe the school could be in poverty with such rich generous parents. The head must be pissing money away.

No, we just have a hardworking active PTA. We think out of the box. That is where my tip Re-use shop came from because I noticed somebody to do with the tip/recycling center driving a Bentley. So there must be money in it even so many on here are against the idea.
The head has virtually rebuilt the 1960's school.

We have an online Auction, Fayres, apply for all the grants etc it has all mounted up.

The same way they deal with competency matters I guess.
So someone else doing unpaid overtime.

As ive said, all my coaching and support time is out of the school day and unpaid.

Its an uncomfortable conversation, but an essential one. If we do not increase funding in line with required expenditure, the quality of state school education will drop. We have reached a tipping point where it is no longer possible to continue to cut without affecting students directly. So we need an open and honest discussion, as a country. Do we want education to at least remain at the same standard and if so, are we prepared to pay for it?

Agree with above but with the rider that expenditure on non teaching needs to be controlled as well. Its no good just ploughing money in if the costs just go up proportionately.

The PTA still can't spend funds on staff...

The expenditure on non staff in most schools is less than 15%

The PTA still can't spend funds on staff...

This is it hence the letter.

As ive said, all my coaching and support time is out of the school day and unpaid

Well I suppose it is if you stop the clock at 3pm every afternoon.

And what do you think the cost is spent on?
It's generally:
Water rates
Electricity
Gas
Property maintenance
Business rates
Stuff to support pupils, accessing counselling etc as you can't get it through camhs. Even this is a tiny amount and supports children staying in school.
Tiny tiny tiny amount on cpd
HR services (payroll etc and hr advice)
TAs - nowadays only pretty much used for 1:1 support.

Well I suppose it is if you stop the clock at 3pm every afternoon.
Now you are showing your own lack of understanding.
Staff can be directed to work within the directed time budget. We can't be directed to work outside of those hours. Naturally, as a professional post some preparation is done out of those hours as part of reasonable hours to do the job.

Nowhere in my job description does it say must provide coaching to colleagues.
Given that our directed time budget is already accounted for, any coaching I do is a good will gesture (like many other goodwill features staff do).

I do hope you're not going to start going down the silly route of:
Claims about staff wanting to leave at
Some digs about staff wanting an easy life
Pointless comments about holidays

Because that would be nonsensical and make little sense.

I think the school has made a mistake here - it's perfectly easy to write a letter about the funding crisis in schools without misleading parents, and this school is at risk of reducing the impact by allowing people to pick holes in it.

A lot of the parents have SEN and therefore don't notice.

Just like the time they sent out a consultation over cutting the school day by half an hour. The SEN parents didn't notice and thought it was great their children were getting half an hours less education a day. They are a minority group who are being done over but who can't help themselves. I think the head is evil by what he has done.

Clavinova

Well I suppose it is if you stop the clock at 3pm every afternoon.

You need to make your mind up

Either the school runs on goodwill and teachers working outside of their hours

or

You run a business concept when hours are metered and people don't work outside of their paid hours.

But remember the stopping at 3pm comment just makes you look like a GF.

A lot of the parents have SEN and therefore don't notice
How on earth do you know the SEND status of a load of parents? Or are you using SEND as a synonym for 'I think they aren't bright and that's why they don't notice'?
They are a minority group who are being done over but who can't help themselves. I think the head is evil by what he has done.
Don't start shifting the goalposts and pretend your scathing criticism has anything to do with securing SEND funding.

Just pointing out the obvious - I know all about directed time thank you.

So why talk about stopping the clock at 3pm?

Either:

1. you know directed time and that staff do many things in addition to reasonable prep outside of directed time, so know schools run on staff goodwill in places

Or,

1. You didn't know about directed time, in which case it was worth pointing out how contracts

The alternative is that you know about directed time and yet still made such a ridiculous assertion.

How on earth do you know the SEND status of a load of parents?
I discussed it with the Head at consultation stage before school hours were cut and we both agreed 'I think they aren't bright and that's why they don't notice'? because the probably have SEN.
Don't start shifting the goalposts and pretend your scathing criticism has anything to do with securing SEND funding.
No this thread has nothing to do with SEND funding. It's to do with the budget as per the letter only.

I discussed it with the Head at consultation stage before school hours were cut and we both agreed
In which case you're an absolute peach and the head has been out of order if they have seriously stood gossiping with a parent speculating about how most of the parents of their cohort have SEND.
No this thread has nothing to do with SEND funding. It's to do with the budget as per the letter only.
Then there was no need to seemingly allude to a concern for SEND children as a minority group or bring up SEND at all.