Head teachers fear cash crisis (From Penarth Times)

Head teachers fear cash crisis

PENARTH head teachers claim post-16 education is facing a funding crisis this year.

They have hit out against the Welsh Assembly for failing to provide enough cash to the local authority.

St Cyres School head teacher and President of the Secondary Heads Association of Wales Brian Lightman said: "This is so frustrating at a time when the Vale Council has worked more closely than ever before with head teachers to try to address the well-known budget shortages.

"A new budget forum has been established and council members including the leader, councillor Jefferey James, and cabinet spokesman for education, councillor Tony Hampton, have listened to and responded most supportively to head teachers' concerns."

"In spite of that fact the Vale of Glamorgan Council has allocated enough to cover all essential costs and allow a small but valuable amount."

Stanwell School Deputy Head, Alec Lewis added: "The ratio of pupils to teachers has been increased so that more pupils are allowed in one class.

"But the budget has not been put up in line with the rise which has been implemented.

"We are about two teachers short of a full compliment for the sixth form.

We have not seen budgets rising the same as under 16 education which is extremely disappointing."

Mr Lightman added: "We have been saying the same message to the Assembly for years but it seems to be falling on deaf ears.

"Funding for school improvement is not reaching schools in Wales."

A spokesman for the Education and Learning for Wales who supply the funding for sixth forms said: "We are not aware that there is a budget decrease.

We have recently supplied the sixth form funds to be distributed to schools and colleges."

Both Saint Cyres and Stanwell school have had sixth forms for many years but are unhappy at current budget alterations for their funding.