Head teachers in Essex advocate for education to be a top priority in the upcoming election.

Two Essex headteachers are calling for education funding to be a top priority in the upcoming election campaign, citing concerns over the sustainability of current budget pressures on state schools.

Vic Goddard, the head of Passmores Academy in Harlow, has been leading the school for 25 years and expressed his worries about the financial situation, calling it “unsustainable.” The school, which serves an area of socio-economic deprivation, is facing the challenge of accommodating an additional 100 pupils next year while needing to find budget savings of £40,000.

Katherine Jeffrey, the principal of New Hall School in Chelmsford, also voiced her concerns about Labour’s proposal to charge private schools 20% VAT and end business rate relief. She warned that this could have a devastating impact on her school, potentially leading to a “wipe out” in the sector.

A report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) highlighted the need for a 4% increase in school budgets this financial year just to keep up with inflationary pressures. The report also pointed out other cost pressures such as recruitment and retention issues, an increase in pupils with special educational needs, and a backlog of school repairs.

Both headteachers emphasized the importance of adequate funding to maintain quality education and support for students. They urged political parties to prioritize education funding in their election campaigns to ensure the sustainability of state schools and the independent sector.