As headteachers, we write this open letter to start a wider debate about education funding and investment in public education. We want to speak up about inadequate funding levels and the link between funding and the quality of education for young people.
Where schools are under-funded, we as headteachers are forced to leave vacancies unfilled, to increase class sizes and to strip out creative and vocational courses and vital enrichment activities. As the funding crisis deepens, we face the prospect of dismissing teaching assistants and teachers.
The profession must work together to secure proper investment in a public education system that fully meets children’s needs.
MPs need to understand that the government’s so called “fair” funding proposals will simply redistribute insufficient resources around the system. Thousands of schools will be even worse off and inflation will wipe out the modest funding increases for others.
We urge everyone to email their MPs about the funding pressures in their school. The teaching profession must act with one voice to secure the future of education. Email your MP here.
Yours sincerely,
Name
Position
School
Alex Atherton
Headteacher
Quintin Kynaston, Camden, London
Polly Honeychurch
Headteacher
Cottage Grove Primary, Portsmouth
Paul Beverton
Headteacher
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Rottingdean, West Sussex
Sue Harte
Headteacher
John Stainer Community Primary School, Lewisham, London
Andrew Livingstone
Headteacher
Murrayfield Community Primary School, Ipswich
Debbie Gilbert
Headteacher
Burwash Primary school, Burwash, East Sussex
Karen Mackenzie
Headteacher
Hilltop Infant School, Wickford, Essex
Julie Bainbridge
Headteacher
Catforth Primary School, Preston
Dr Julian Grenier
Headteacher
Sheringham Nursery School, Newham, London
Steve Hitchcock
Headteacher
St Peter’s Primary School, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
June Lee
Headteacher
Roseberry Primary &Nursery Scool, Pelton, County Durham
Emma Stritt
Headteacher
Trannack Primary School, Trannack, Cornwall
Lynne Greenhough
Headteacher
Brookfield Primary School, Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire
Resham Mirza
Headteacher
Tiverton Primary School, Haringey, London
Nicky Godetz
Headteacher
Cypress Primary School, Croydon, London
Lawrence Gittins
Headteacher
St John’s CE Primary School, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Colin Harris
Headteacher
Warren Park Primary School, Havant, Hampshire
Tim Browse
Headteacher
Hillcrest Primary School, Bristol
Stephen Tierney
CEO
Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Blackpool
Brian Walton
Headteacher
Brookside Academy, Street, Somerset
Vic Goddard
CEO
Passmores Academy, Harlow, Essex
David Whitaker
Principal
Springwell Special Academy, Barnsley
Jane Armstrong
Headteacher
Farnborough Grange Nursery/Infant Community School, Farnborough, Hampshire
Duncan Bathgate
Headteacher
Bealings Primary School, Suffolk
Louise Regan
Headteacher
Hillocks Primary School, Nottinghamshire
Debra Bailey
Headteacher
Rushey Mead Primary School, Leicester
Graham Voller
Headteacher
Beecroft Garden Primary School, Lewisham, London
Susan Penney
Headteacher
Torrisholme Primary School, Morecambe, Lancashire
Mrs S Collingwood
Headteacher
Morecambe Bay Community Primary School, Morecambe, Lancashire
Catherine Armistead
Headteacher
Skerton St Luke’s CE School, Lancaster
Rachael Pryor
Headteacher
HOPE Virtual School for Children in Care, Bristol
Ms Liz Filer
Headteacher
Valentine Primary School, Southampton
Allison Hickson
Headteacher
Sandylands Primary School, Morecambe, Lancashire
Paul Gabriel
Headteacher
Lancaster Road Primary, Morecambe, Lancashire
John Ross
Headteacher
Great Wood Primary School, Morecambe, Lancashire
Cathy Thomas
Headteacher
Ellel St Johns CE Primary School, Lancaster
Joanne Easthope
Headteacher
Silverdale St John’s CE Primary School, Silverdale, Lancashire
Kelly Hannah
Headteacher
Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster
Sue Fitt
Headteacher
Ridge Community Primary School, Lancaster
Jo Longworth
Headteacher
Bowerham Primary and Nursery School, Lancaster
Paul Slater
Headteacher
Trumacar Nursery and Community Primary School, Morecambe, Lancashire
J. Lapsa
Headteacher
Vernon Terrace Primary, Northampton
Nigel Hunt
Headteacher
The Bridge School, Runcorn, Cheshire
Daniel Hargreaves
Headteacher
Christ Church Primary School, Carnforth, Lancashire
Nicki Brough
Headteacher
Nether Kellet Primary School, Carnforth, Lancashire
Alison Aylott
Headteacher
Scotforth St Paul’s C of E Primary & Nursery School, Lancaster
Linda Pye
Headteacher
Ryelands Primary School, Lancaster
Josephine Dibb
Headteacher
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, Islington, London
Steve Robinson
Headteacher
Westgate Primary School, Morecambe, Lancashire
Mrs Victoria Bould
Headteacher
Poulton-le-Sands C of E Primary School, Morecambe, Lancashire
