Letters outlining the financial struggles faced by 13 Leicester and Leicestershire schools have been sent to parents this week.

The chief executive of the Discover Schools Academy Partnership, Paul Stone, took the unusual step of telling parents about the struggles faced by the partnership’s schools and sent a letter home to the parents and carers of all 4,106 pupils.

He told LeicestershireLive that it’s important parents and carers are aware that schools in the group will  face ‘tough choices and difficult decisions’ over the next few years.

He blames ‘additional costs’ generated by rising national insurance and pension contributions, the national living wage and staff pay rises as some of the reasons schools are finding it ‘increasingly difficult’ to balance budgets.

In the letter, sent home last week, he offers suggestions of how parents can support the school to bring in more cash.

When asked about why he sent the letter, Mr Stone said: “We want to be open and honest with parents.

“It’s not political, it’s not blaming any particular thing, it’s just us saying, this is the situation, these are the challenges we face and this is what we’re doing about it.”

The letter was sent to the following schools: 

Discovery Schools Academy Trust schools
  • Sileby Redlands Primary, Sileby
  • Captain’s Close Primary, Melton Mowbray
  • Woolden Hill Primary, Anstey
  • Mowmacre Hill Primary, Leicester
  • Danemill Primary, Enderby
  • Braunstone Community Primary, Braunstone
  • Parkland Primary, Wigston
  • Merrydale Junior School, Leicester
  • Fossebrook Primary School, Leicester
  • Kibworth C of E Primary, Kibworth
  • Farndon Fields, Market Harborough
  • Leighfield Primary, Uppingham
  • Greystoke Primary, Narborough

Mr Stone added that he has contacted MPs for the areas where the partnership’s schools are and urged parents with concerns to do the same.

“We want our schools to be the best they can and for that we need the finances in place.

“The letter isn’t us saying we’ve got no money, it’s not saying roll out desperate measures, it's us taking a sensible approach to a very real issue.

“The response from parents so far has been really positive. They are grateful of the honest approach and a few have said that they can help and offer some support.”

One of the ways Mr Stone said parents can help, is by using before and after school care and holiday camps provided at the schools.

He said: “It’s an easy way to generate revenue for the school, while providing a service for parents at a place children know.

“We invest in before and after school care so it is a way that we can generate an income.”

What parents need to know about schools

The letter was written and sent out with the full backing of all of the headteachers.

Mr Stone said: “We worked out the wording together, it’s very important to have the input of headteachers and their support.

“This is a problem that we are likely to have for the foreseeable future.

“A lack of funding is not just affecting education but the NHS and other public services too.

“People are well aware of how things are, which is why we are keen to suggest ways that they can help.”

The letter in full:

Discovery Schools Academy Trust

Dear parents/carers,

I am writing on behalf of Discovery Schools Academy Trust to highlight the challenges our schools will be facing over the next few years and to seek your help in supporting us.

You may have read recent news reports about the financial pressures on schools across the country and the measures they are taking to address them. We want to take this opportunity to explain how we anticipate these challenges might affect our schools, and to share with you how we are striving to minimise the impact on our educational provision.

Additional costs from rising national insurance and pension contributions, the national living wage, staff pay rises and the introduction of the apprenticeship levy mean schools are finding it increasingly difficult to balance their budgets.

As a trust, we work with headteachers to carefully plan our budgets and identify ways we can make funding go further through efficient workforce structures, and savings in back-office costs and procurement - ensuring every pound delivers the best value for pupils.

Like all schools across the country, we are thinking carefully about how we continue to provide our children with an excellent education in a financially sustainable way. By working together collectively as a trust, we have greater opportunities to secure financial efficiencies.

We are supporting schools by:

  • Using our collective purchasing power to reduce the cost of supplies and services
  • Investing in our schools to help them develop before and after school care, nurseries, pre-schools and holiday camps to generate additional income
  • Helping schools to compare how they spend their money and identify ways to make savings
  • Coordinating recruitment so that vacancies are advertised internally to support the most effective deployment of staff
  • Developing structures so that schools can share staff or functions can be delivered centrally where it is financially beneficial
  • Further investing in staff training to ensure that children are supported by well trained teachers and support staff, reducing the need for specialist services
  • Working effectively with our wider partners to ensure we make best use of our funding when we plan teacher and leader professional development

How you can help

Our schools value their strong and supportive relationships with parents and there are ways that you can help us. Some of these include:

  • Using our schools’ before and after school care and holiday camps ahead of choosing external providers
  • Volunteering your time or skills to support pupil learning or extra-curricular activities, complimenting the work of our staff
  • Actively supporting the parent association to fundraise
  • Working with your school to access grants that might be available
  • Checking with your employer to see if they have charitable activities that could support schools
  • Sharing the positive news about your school to help ensure it is the school of choice in the area
  • Supporting the payment of any parental voluntary contributions towards trips and resources
  • Contacting your local MP and supporting national campaigns to improve funding for schools.

Our schools will face tough choices and difficult decisions over the next few years. Rest assured that we will continue to use the money that is available as effectively as possible in providing the best educational experience for every child.

If you have any specific questions or concerns about anything covered in this letter, please contact your headteacher, who will be happy to discuss the challenges and how you might be able to help.

We will continue to keep you updated, in the meantime, we wish to reassure you that we remain committed to providing the best quality education for every child in our trust.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Stone - CEO

David Williams - Chair of Trustees

Mr Stone said he intends to update parents and carers on financial challenges and what the schools are doing to address them when appropriate.