Support floods in for fight against Government cuts to Redbridge Schools at Big Picnic for Education in Wanstead

Over 250 people turned out for the Big Picnic for Education on Wanstead’s Christchurch Green after school on Wednesday (May 24).

Among picnic blankets and parachute games, parents and children listened to speeches from teachers, councillors, union reps, and students on the “crisis” facing Redbridge schools.

Organisers Redbridge Against Academisation (RAA) and sponsors National Union of Teachers (NUT) and National Association of Head teachers (NAHT) were also on hand to tell parents how much money is set to be cut from their children’s schools.

According to statistics, the borough is set to lose £15,340,422 in Government school funding by 2019, the equivalent of £338 per pupil and 411 teacher jobs.

At Wanstead High School that means £341 less spent on every student and 10 teachers losing their jobs. Wanstead Church School could lose up to £473 per pupil and three teachers.

Regional NUT rep Anne Mallack said: “All the work I’m doing at the moment is redundancies and restructuring.

“The Government are really cutting to the bone, everything that’s not statutory is going, which is a big worry for special needs support.

“That’s what makes this kind of event so important – it’s only by having a campaign of teachers, parents, governors, and councillors together that we will actually achieve anything.

Redbridge secondary school teacher Venda Premkumar claims the borough’s school budgets are at “breaking point”.

She said: “The figures are really grim and it’s having a devastating effect on our schools.

“I spoke to a drama teacher recently who’s had to teach in a room with holes in the ceiling for a year because the money isn’t there to get it fixed.

“It’s also heart-breaking to have to console a Year 9 pupil who is upset they can’t study their two favourite subjects at GCSE.”

Labour incumbents in next month's General Election John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead) and Wes Streeting (Ilford North) were also there to show their support, along with Green Party candidate Ashley Gunstock.

Mr Cryer told the Guardian he will be applying for a Parliament debate on school funding in east London if he is re-elected and said he has spoken to several teachers who are “fearing for their jobs”.

Mr Streeting, who recently met with half of the borough’s head teachers to discuss the funding crisis, added: “The school cuts are already biting.

“Since the head teachers have spoken out I think there’s a much greater awareness of what’s happening to our schools.

“Parents realise they can’t be expected to do more and more with less and less money and they're really worried.”

Redbridge Council cabinet member for children and young people Elaine Norman said the Government “refuse to listen to the evidence” on education.

She said: “If our head teachers are saying our children’s education is at risk, we should be listening to them.”

RAA organiser and Wanstead mum-of-two Victoria Baskerville said she was “absolutely delighted” with the turnout and "very moved by the support".

The lobby group will continue campaigning for a rethink on school funding cuts and will be outside Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford rallying support at 6.45pm on June 22.

The Department for Education could not comment in light of the General Election.