Protests being organised around Sussex by the East Sussex Schools’ Campaign for Fair and Sufficient Funding (@FlatCashEd) against national cuts in the funding for schools, as well as the amount per pupil in Sussex as compared to other areas, coincided on Tuesday, March 14, with a meeting for parents at the Studio School about specific cuts affecting their children. Heidi Foster reports:
When I saw parents picketing with placards at the bus stops near Jempson’s, I stopped to ask what was happening. They told me that cuts will mean 14-16-year-olds at Rye College will not be able to transfer to the Studio School as it is closing to new students. (See Double blow for schools)
The demonstration was not just about the Studio School but part of a county-wide protest that schools in this part of the country are being hit by more severe funding cuts than other areas and, as the front page article makes clear, the Rye Academy group of schools (and therefore their students) are paying the price of this policy.
Many of those demonstrating had children either currently at the Studio School or who were hoping to go there. One, Amanda Jobson, whose son who is nearly 15 and who was looking forward to joining the Studio School with some of his peers, felt it would have given them the possibility to further their creative interests in music, art, media and fashion, in addition to the academic curriculum
I was told by Mrs Jobson that the parents were up in arms and that there was a meeting to discuss this with the school that evening. She said one of the questions will be: “What are these students, who want to move on to the Studio School at 14, to do for the next two years? Must they remain, unwillingly, in the academic stream?”
They are asking local MP and Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, to put her political weight behind this and to help overturn the decision. There are parents, including herself, Mrs Jobson said, who are willing to try to raise funds if that would help keep these pre-GCSE years open to the students. Another demonstrator, Mary Ruphy, felt that a very positive feature at the Studio School was the ability to get the students into relevant training and apprenticeships which was so important for their future careers.
Anyone interested in further information can go to the Fair Funding website or facebook FlatCashEd
Photos: Heidi Foster
