THE FLINTSHIRE Headteachers' Federation has warned of "significant potential consequences" for schools in the county due to budget cuts.

It comes as Flintshire Council is facing having to cut school budgets by £3.3million to help plug a budget deficit of £14.5million.

The Flintshire Headteachers' Federation warns that rising inflation, energy costs and increased staffing costs, combined with budget cut, has left schools facing "unprecedented" financial crisis. 

The stark warning comes just weeks after headteachers of schools across Wrexham issued a similarly bleak statement. 

A letter sent to parents of Flintshire schoolchildren by the Federation states: "As you may be aware, public services in Wales are facing significant financial pressures currently. Having consulted with colleagues, we are writing to ensure that all parents and carers are fully informed of the potential significant consequences currently facing schools in relation to our budgets, and the impact this may have on the services we will be able to provide.

"ln this coming financial year beginning on April 1, whilst there has been a small uplift to school budgets of 3.5 per cent, this will not cover the cost pressures that schools are facing. This will present significant challenges and place every school, primary, secondary and special in a very difficult budgetary position.

"We acknowledge that there has been a slight increase in the Welsh educational budget but inflation, energy costs and increased staffing costs have resulted in a considerable impact on local government spending and a cut in real terms at school level."

The letter states that over recent years, the birth rate in Flintshire has dropped, which means fewer learners in schools with the resulting reduction in funding from Welsh Government.

The Federation warns that the "likely" impact of the budgets cuts will mean:

  • Redundancies causing a reduction in staffing, larger classes, fewer trips and extra-curricular activities, reduced support for pupils with additional needs.
  • Less support for pupils needing extra help with literacy and maths interventions.
  • Less support for pupils who need wellbeing interventions.
  • Less support for pupils with behavioural difficulties, leading to more disruption and exclusions.
  • Less support for pupils with complex needs in mainstream schools.
  • Fewer resources for pupils to use.
  • Reductions in courses, qualifications and the curriculum schools can offer.
  • Repairs and upkeep of school buildings will suffer.
  • Concerns over general health and safety in schools.
  • Negative judgements from Estyn as a result of reduced services.

The letter states: "As headteachers, we want to assure our families that we will always do our utmost to maintain the core provision in our schools, protecting teaching and learning by placing our learners and staff at the heart of everything we do.

"However, we believe headteachers and governors will have to make a choice between providing the current level of service or balancing the books. Therefore, it is inevitable that in many cases, schools will not be able to provide and sustain the same level of support and services due to the significant shortfall in our funding.

"lf this happens in your school over the next year, we would ask you please to remember that your headteacher and governors are working within a very difficult financial climate locally, but this is also part of a much wider financial issue across Wales and the UK."

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It adds: "As headteachers we are grateful for the ongoing support from Flintshire County Council in helping us to navigate our way through this situation and for making representations on our behalf at a national level. We will continue to work in partnership with the council to minimise the impact at a school level.

"However, your support and understanding during these challenging times will be invaluable. We have made representations locally and nationally to councillors and members of the Senedd and we will continue to do this.

"This letter has been written in consultation with all headteachers in Flintshire. Thank you for your understanding."