Schools ‘on knife edge’ with finances with calls for donations to fund books and pencils

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “This will mean job losses, larger classes and reductions in student support, subject options and extracurricular programmes.” open image in gallery Alex Rawlings says his school was always able to manage its budgets until now Headteachers told The Independent this was already the case as they struggled to balance the books, with rocketing energy bills and pay increases expected to be funded by schools themselves. “It’s having a real, genuine impact on the quality of provision and education,” the Quarry Bank primary school headteacher said. “We’re all on a knife edge.” Mr Di’Iasio from Wales High School in Rotherham said: “It’s all about trying to get through this next year and hoping there is some light at the end of the tunnel beyond that.” But he said he feared the future might be even worse for schools whose reserves will be eaten up this year. Schools could use the government’s school resource management programme to “help them get the best value from their resources”, including recommended deals for energy costs, the spokesperson added.