State school asks parents for help in plugging £300,000 funding cut

A state secondary school has caused outrage by asking parents to help plug a £300,000 cut in funding.

St Joseph’s College, in Stoke-on-Trent sent a letter requesting parents pay £60 each term to help the school cope with major budget cuts.

The school said the contributions would only be on a voluntary basis.

Some parents have criticised the move and claimed it is a “dangerous” step towards privatising state education.

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One mum, who did not wish to be named, said: “I think its disgraceful. Providing for my children is already expensive enough as is is.

“I find it insulting to be asked to fork out extra money when a right to a free education is what we pay our taxes for.

“It’s the job of the school to balance their books better, not ours. It sounds like it could be a dangerous step towards privatising a public school.”

However, mum-of-one Julie Childs, 34, added: “I wouldn’t mind paying this at all.

“It’s a drop in the ocean compared to paying extortionate private school fees.”

In a letter sent to parents this week, the school revealed it is facing £289,000 of cutbacks next year and is now having to look at ‘very difficult decisions’.

Headteacher Melissa Roberts said if every parent stumps up £60-a-term, it could generate an extra £196,000 for the school fund, along with £39,000 in Gift Aid.

The school’s letter added: “I can assure parents that all the money raised through the school fund is being spent on provision which directly benefits students.”

Between now and 2019, it is estimated that schools nationally will experience real-terms cuts of £3 billion as costs rise and some Government grants are phased out.

St Joseph’s already had a policy of asking parents for voluntary contributions to pay for things such as a new science building, playground benches, gym equipment, school trips and events.

In a statement Ms Roberts said: “Like all schools nationally, St Joseph’s College is under increasing financial pressure.

“While we can meet our core commitments, the provision of the outstanding opportunities that we strive to offer has been supported by parents for the last 20 years via a voluntary payment to the school fund.

“We have recently reminded parents, as we do annually, of the benefits to their children of supporting the school in this way.”

St Joseph’s is a mixed selective school which caters for 1,078 children aged between 11-18.