A frustrated headmaster at a cash-strapped primary school has been forced to convince his mother and sister to help out because he can't afford to keep staff.
Exasperated Steve Hitchcock believes most schools will be in deficit this financial year and said the cash crisis means many will struggle to survive.
The head of St Peter's Primary School in Budleigh Salterton, Devon has lost some catering staff to supermarkets because they pay more.
He has seen a 9% real terms cut in income in the last decade, his school's energy bills have risen by 100% in the last six months while his catering bill is now £38,000 in the red.
The school is also facing staff pay rises of 5-10% which he says it cannot afford.
Mr Hitchcock said: "It is mission impossible. It does feel like something needs to give, enough is enough. For the last 14 years it has been cutbacks, cutbacks, cutbacks.
"We are constantly asking parents for money constantly asking local groups, constantly trying to get money from any source. It shouldn't be my job.
"I had to ask my mum to come and volunteer as a lunchtime assistant to make sure we had enough members of staff.
"And I had to ask my sister in law if she'd come and do some cleaning to make sure we had enough staff to do that as well. That's just crazy."
He became headteacher in 2008 and says it has 'got to the point where there isn't anything else to cut back'.
He added: "What we're expected to do with the resources we've got, the two don't match.
"Staff are leaving to work in supermarkets for better paid jobs which means that it's really hard to recruit. Getting cleaners and lunchtime staff is really tricky because the pay is low."
The Department for Education says it is supporting schools with £53.8 billion this year in core funding which includes a cash increase of £4 billion.
It said it understood schools were facing cost pressures and said they will benefit from the Energy Relief Scheme.
The Department for Education said: "We understand that schools - much like wider society - are facing cost pressures due to international events driving up inflation and global energy prices, which is why all schools will benefit from the Energy Relief Scheme, capping how much schools need to spend on their energy and giving them greater certainty over their budgets over the winter months.
"We are supporting schools with £53.8bn this year in core funding, which includes a cash increase of £4bn, and are also providing schools with tools to help them get the best value for money from their resources, including recommended deals for energy costs and services related to energy."
