A number of headteachers in north London have written to parents pleading for patience as they struggle to “run schools in the way the children deserve”.
The set of educators, all based in Camden, sent the message to guardians of their pupils this week.
The headteachers said budgeting issues were restricting their resources and added: "We need support".
They told the recipients: "We are simply asking, as we continue to struggle on, for your understanding, patience and support.”
John Hayes, the headteacher of Gospel Oak Primary and Nursery School, drafted the letter which was then sent collectively.
Speaking to the Standard, he said: “We’re now at that tipping point where it’s becoming very difficult, if not impossible, to run our schools in the way that the children deserve the schools to be run.”
He said the letter came about following a meeting of the headteachers and was written to show parents that the issues are affecting a number of institutions.
Mr Hayes, who has been headteacher at Gospel Oak since 2012, said figures showing increases in education funding might not reflect the true picture because costs are also rising.
He also said the situation for schools was the worst he had seen since he first began working in education 32 years ago.
He said it was “depressing” to see his team working hard to ensure children did not miss out as it has become increasingly difficult to do so.
Mr Hayes said: “We now have to come to terms with the fact the message we have to give to parents is to parents is, ‘we are struggling to give the standards your children deserve’.”
The letter also referenced staffing issues facing schools.
In response to the message, the Department of Education said it has “introduced a wide range of support to help schools reduce costs and get the best value from their resources”.
A statement said: “This year, under the national funding formula, schools in Camden will attract £6,251 per pupil on average, well above the national average of £4,689.”
“While there is more money going into our schools than ever before we know schools face budgeting challenges, which is why we have introduced a wide range of support to help schools reduce costs and get the best value from their resources – from a free-to-use vacancy service to cut the costs of recruiting teachers, to advisors who are providing expert help and support to individual schools that need it.
“The Secretary of State has made clear that as we approach the next spending review, he will back head teachers to have the resources they need to deliver a world class education.”
