A SCHOOL volunteer who has been recognised by the Queen for services to education has raised strong concerns over the future of funding for schools.

Habidah Glass, who has volunteered at Clayton Village Primary School for over 16 years, was included in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list and will pick up her British Empire Medal later this year.

She now fears for the future of local schools in light of looming budget pressures and has raised her concerns with a local MP.

Mrs Glass was so concerned she has spoken to staff and parents at the school about the issue and collected around 120 names as part of a petition calling for an increase in schools’ funding. Today, she presented the petition to Bradford West MP Naz Shah.

Education groups including the Bradford Schools Forum, the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Head Teachers have all warned that schools face mounting budget pressures as funding remains static while costs increase, due to reasons such as increased pension and National Insurance contributions to staff.

The NAHT has claimed budget pressures would leave Bradford schools facing a real terms cut of £38 million by 2020 Mrs Glass said: “I’m really worried about funding. We are all concerned about our children’s future. I still have grandchildren in the school, so any cuts will affect them as well. We’re fighting so our children won’t suffer education wise.

“When schools are forced to cut more and more, you worry about whether children will get a first class education. Teachers will be more hard done by. I hope other schools will do the same and let their MPs know how they feel about this funding.”

Referring to her inclusion in the Honours list, she said: “I’m still really humbled to have my award, but it won’t stop me fighting for the children to get the funding they need.”

Ms Shah said: “I totally agree that we need more investment in our schools. We do have some new investment, like the opportunities fund but there are still concerns about school funding. I know a lot of schools are facing deficits in the next few years.”

The Department for Education has maintained that school funding is at its highest ever level, and that the NAHT figures were “misleading.”