Schools urge parents to help plug funding gaps as costs soar

Some parent bodies helping with core costs, raising fears of growing gap between rich and poor areas

Days into the new academic year, headteachers have raised the alarm about a looming funding crisis in schools, with some parents urged to make donations and parent-teacher associations on standby to plug funding gaps for classroom essentials.

As energy bills and wage costs rise, school leaders say money from PTA fundraising efforts will be needed to cover core costs rather than nice to have" extras. In affluent areas where PTAs are able to raise huge sums, it could even be used to save jobs and help pay bills.