Whitstable parents today spoke out in support of the decision by the Kent Association of Headteachers to join Headteachers in West Sussex as part of a national protest on school cuts today. Parents at a number of Whitstable schools have this week recieved correspondence from their local headteachers explaining why they will be joining their colleagues from West Syssex in a national protest ending at Downing Street.
WorthLess? is a campaign initiated by Headteachers in West Sussex but which is now being supported by groups of Headteachers right across the country and is gaining a great deal of publicity and momentum. The Kent Association of Headteachers has encouraged its members to join them on a national day of action, with some deciding to do so unpaid.
Chris Cornell, a father of two said, “I sit on the Parent Teachers Association at my daughter’s school and at last weeks meeting the headteacher explained just how tight things had been financially last year. For the first time in over ten years well over £10,000 raised by parents had been used to fund basic supplies requested by subject heads. Parents are happy to help when they can, but if this becomes the norm, I fear many of the projects the PTA take on to support our children’s learning may suffer”.
Abi Gilchirst, who organised a school gate protest with Rosie Duffield at Joy Lane Primary last year said, ” I was shocked to hear many parents say that the cuts that the Labour party had warned would be coming as party of the Conservatives austerity plan “won’t happen at our school”. Unfortunately that just hasn’t been the case, and I think all parents can now fully see the cost of austerity on our schools both in terms of staff levels and also supplies. I hope the Headteachers taking this stand will show the country that these cuts in funding come at a very serious cost to our children’s education”.
Morag Warren, Labour’s prospective councillor in Swalecliffe said “It’s unheard of in this country for headteachers to take part in organised action like this. It’s clear that they feel they have no choice – their jobs are being made impossible due to the savage cuts of this government. They are unable to provide basic educational equipment, and are having to choose between vital support for students with additional needs and pushing the most able. As a teacher myself, I am only too aware of how the teaching profession has been gradually deunionised by academisation. I am both proud and horrified that headteachers have realised that it’s absolutely necessary to take this action. The government can’t ignore the voices of those with the biggest influence on our children’s education any longer – they need to listen and invest in our schools urgently.”