A grammar school in Barnet is asking parents for suggested donations of £250 to help pay off a £100,000 deficit.

A letter from St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School head teacher Julian Ward said it would pay for for the fundamentals of education such as staff salaries.

The letter read: “Whilst the appeal has so far raised over £50,000 you will see that we are still a long way from covering the expected deficit.

"If we fail to reduce this still further in March we will then enter the forthcoming difficult financial year with a deficit before we even start the new year.”

Ward, whose school is described as “outstanding” by Ofsted, said it was ironic that some of the schools hardest hit by the current education budget squeeze were grammar schools, at a time when the government is planning to invest more money in new grammars.

Philip Hammond confirmed in Wednesday’s budget that he would spend £320m on expanding the government’s free school programme, creating 70,000 places in up to 140 schools, which will be able to offer selective education once legislation is passed to lift the current ban on new grammars.

Barnet parents concerned about cuts to their schools have been invited to three public meetings taking place in the borough.

The Fair Funding for All Schools campaign is independent and parent-led, set up by parents to force ministers to listen to their concerns about the worsening financial situation facing schools across the country.

Joanna Yurky, of the Fair Funding For All Schools campaign, said: “Today’s budget still means that per-pupil funding will go down by the end of this parliament. And our schools and our children will continue to pay the cost with fewer staff, bigger classes and cuts to the curriculum.

“As parents, we’re seeing the impact on our children and our schools but the government is in denial about it. With the best will in the world, parents can’t pick up the bill for the government’s broken promises. Nobody voted for cuts to our schools.”

The three meetings will take place on:

  • March 21 from 7.30pm at Martins Primary School,
  • March 29 from 6.30pm at All Saints Primary School,
  • April 25from 8pm at East Barnet School.

What do you think? Get in touch by emailing charlotte.ikonen@london.newsquest.co.uk.