SIR - Schools are suffering the biggest squeeze to their budgets since the early 1990s, when the Conservatives were also in office.
A combination of increased national insurance and pension contributions, plus the newly introduced apprenticeships levy means schools face a £3 billion cut between now and 2020. Head teachers have pointed out that these school budgetary pressures are entirely Government-inflicted, as the money is going straight back to the Treasury.
Also, the £600 million education services grant (ESG) was originally cut as part of previous Government plans to convert every school in England into an academy. Yet, though this policy was scrapped when the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, was sacked in July 2016, the money has not been reinstated.
And, from September, councils will still have a statutory duty to offer safeguarding services such as student welfare services, mental health support and fire safety, but will no longer have the money to fund them. Schools will thus be forced to cut staff or their curriculum, to carry out these services.
David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose
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