Thame school fights funding crisis with appeal

THAME’S Lord Williams’s School, alongside thousands of other schools, is having to deal with a funding crisis that is not of their making. As confirmed by the IFS (Institute for Fiscal Studies) LWS faces a real terms cut in funds of 8% over the next three years, which amounts to around £800,000.

David Wybron

In an effort to close the funding gap to help with increased staffing costs, and the loss of money the school received as an academy to deliver services, previously provided by the Local Authority, LWS launched a School Fund Appeal. Launching the appeal back in September, Head Teacher, David Wybron, told parents in the school’s newsletter: “There are some challenges ahead! We cannot rely on government funding. However, we are confident that, with our close partnership with parents/carers, local businesses, and supporters of the school, we will find ways to address them.”

Six months later, Mr Wybron reports that: “Our School Fund Appeal has received a positive response from many parents and carers and our thanks go to everyone who has already committed to making a monthly donation to support our school.

“In recent weeks the government has made a commitment to provide extra funding for schools. This is welcome news. However, indicative allocations to this school still fall short of covering our basic operating costs. In addition, the end of the pay cap for public sector workers is likely to have a serious impact on our staffing costs this year and beyond. We are already facing increasing staffing costs through National Insurance and Pension contributions. We estimate that a 1% increase in staff salaries would add approximately £100,000 to our running costs.”

Parents and carers are able to choose the amount they give each month. For example, the mother of a Year 10 pupil has chosen to give £20 a month. She explained: “I give the equivalent of the cost of two takeaway coffees a week and I’m pleased to support the school in this way. We’re very lucky to have such wonderful opportunities offered to our children at Lord Williams’s and by giving a little each month, it’s not only a way to say ‘thank you’ but also a way to help the school plan for the future. I am able to Gift Aid the donation too, which means the school receive an extra 25p for every £1 I donate.”

Mr Wybron concluded: “Whilst we continue to campaign at a national level to redress the inequity, our resolve now is to double our efforts and close as much of the funding gap over the next three years as we can.”

Lord Williams’s, which is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, is the largest Academy in Oxfordshire with over £2,000 pupils. Anyone who would like to help the school by making a regulation donation, can learn how by clicking on this LINK https://secure.edirectdebit.com/Lord-Williamss-School-/schoolfundappeal/Desktop-Form-Page/