HEADTEACHERS across Bromsgrove have thrown their support behind a campaign to demand more funding for Worcestershire schools.

Thousands of letters are set to be sent to parents this week urging them to back the WorthLess? Campaign by writing to Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid, calling for fairer funding for their children's schools.

Headteachers from cash-strapped schools across the county, including South Bromsgrove's Chris Smith, will march to Downing Street on September 28 to deliver the message.

Mr Smith told the Advertiser: "Over recent years all of us have had to live with tighter budgets. The schools of Worcestershire have certainly been no exception to this.

Bromsgrove Advertiser:

"With around 90 per cent of our budget going on wages and salaries, high schools have, year on year, had to reduce the range of options, increase class sizes, cut back on support staff and provide less individual support to the most vulnerable.

"South Bromsgrove High has been fortunate enough to have accumulated some reserves and we have been able to protect our students to some extent, but we have also had to make some cuts.

"Many Worcestershire high schools in this academic year have been forced to set a deficit budget. This is the case at South Bromsgrove High.

"The problem is now so acute that the head teachers of each of the county’s high schools will today be writing letters such as this to every one of their parents because, unless the situation changes, we simply cannot continue to provide the service for which Worcestershire high schools have become known."

The pressure on school budgets is intensified in Bromsgrove, where high schools were built with the support of a Private Finance Initiative, meaning day-to-day running costs and changes to provision come at a significantly higher rate compared to similar sized schools elsewhere.

Mr Smith said letters should be sent home to parents this Friday.

In the letters, parents will be told that the funding per pupil in Worcestershire is £887 less than those in Birmingham. The letters also detail the impact of this funding shortage - larger classes, fewer options and less support for the most vulnerable.

Bromsgrove Advertiser:

Head of Waseley Hills High School Alan Roll, who is also joining the march in London, added: “Our high schools are expected to be able to maintain standards on increasingly less money which is almost an impossible balancing act.

“Special needs funding in particular has been hit very hard.

“At Waseley Hills we have already had to increase class sizes to reduce the number of teaching and support staff in school.

“I will be sending out letters to parents this week advertising the WorthLess? march. This will include a template letter for parents to write to their MP.”

Cllr Marcus Hart, county cabinet member for education, said he was 'fully supportive' of any campaign for extra funding to central government.

Sajid Javid was approached for comment but was unavailable at the time of going to press.