Cash-strapped school forced to send begging letter to parents asking for £30 donation

A school head has sent a begging letter to parents asking for a £30 donation to help with their finances.

Middlewich High School in Cheshire has asked for the cash injection to go towards resources, activities and opportunities for pupils, Cheshire Live reports .

New head, Heidi Thurland, whose parents were both English teachers, says balancing a lack of funding with the school’s broad curriculum is “one of the biggest challenges” she faces.

The 120-year-old school has sent out letters to parents and carers asking if they can contribute towards a ‘special purposes fund’ to help keep a wide variety of lessons for pupils.

Ms Thurland, who joined the 700 pupil school this year, said: “I am passionate about protecting the curriculum and protecting staffing to ensure that every student receives the best possible qualifications, opportunities and care.

“However, if funding continues in the current format there are very difficult decisions ahead to be made about the curriculum we offer and how we resource it.

“Nationally there are schools who are consulting on running a four-day week as they simply cannot afford to run the school .

"There are examples of multi-academy trusts across the country which are in serious financial trouble.

“Middlewich High School is not in this position. However, we need to be pragmatic, creative and resourceful to ensure that the budget is managed effectively.

“Many schools have taken similar steps in setting up a school fund and requesting contributions from families.”

Since the head joined earlier this year, she has promoted a 'phone free' school during learning and says she was pleased to see students now talking to each other.

In a newsletter to parents, she said: “The canteen is now alive with conversation and laughter which is lovely. We have also noted a significant decrease in antisocial incidents with social media. “

Cllr Carol Bulman, Labour Cheshire East Council (CEC) member for Middlewich, believes the Government must now act and provide more funding for schools.

She said: “They have been left very short at Middlewich High School - probably because it has quite a lot of SEND pupils and it is there that the shortfall in funding hits hardest.

“It is a sensitive issue. CEC has tried with the local arrangement, shuffling money around to schools which need it most, but it is just a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“But that is not enough any more - the cuts are so extreme now that schools are having to go to parents, who have already contributed with their taxes.

It is scandalous that this has happened. The only solution is more money from Government.

“Schools have done remarkably well with what they have, CEC has tried hard, but there has to be more money.”

Middlewich High School is holding a meeting with parents and carers to discuss the special purposes fund on Tuesday.