School blames financial position for arts cuts

While the incoming Labour government has vowed to make art central to children's education, the scale of the task has been brought into sharp focus after a primary school ended the contract of an artist who has taught its pupils for 24 years.

In a message to parents, Drayton Park School in Islington, north London, said "legendary" art teacher Berrin Bates, will be leaving the school this month.

"This is not her choice," the letter said.

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"We have made the difficult decision to cease our contract with her because of the challenging financial situation schools currently face.

"Our children have learnt, grown, created, healed and had so much joy at Berrin's hands. Our staff members have become more passionate artists and our teachers are now confident and inspired when delivering art lessons themselves."

"She has had a fabulous impact on the creativity and quality of art at our school. It has been an absolute pleasure to show people, again and again, how great art at our school is, because of Berrin."

Large deficits

Although the school raised £500,000 for the construction of an art block a decade ago, worsening finances in recent years have resulted in it, like many other schools across the country, making difficult decisions to save money.

In Islington, a Labour-run council, school finances have been in decline since 2018/19 when they had a combined surplus of £11.7m.

By the end of the 2024/25 academic year the council predicts they will have an overall deficit balance of £3.6m, and a deficit of £13.1m by the end of 2025/26.

The situation is driven by a number of factors. Falling birthrates, Brexit, a rise in home-schooling of children since Covid and families relocating to places outside London have all hit pupil numbers. With 90% of school funding being pupil led – this means an average loss of £5,706 per unfilled space in primary schools and £8,479 per pupil in secondary schools.

There are also increasing numbers of pupils with special educational needs who require an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. Schools receive additonal funding from councils for children with EHC plans, but schools must meet the first £6,000 of any additional support required.

Meanwhile, there have been below inflation per-pupil increases in funding under the national funding formula despite schools contending with rising energy costs and staff pay increases.

Challenges for Labour

The situation highlights the challenges faced by the incoming Labour government to fulfil its pledge of making the arts central to the education system.

Speaking in March, Keir Starmer said Labour will reform school accountability frameworks to include arts subjects in its first days of government.

He said a lack of focus on the arts under the Conservative government has made it increasingly difficult for children to engage with the arts with subjects being “diminished and devalued” in schools leading to a big drop in GCSE enrolments.

"Under the Tories, we've seen a crisis in creativity in our schools. And it's working class kids who bear the brunt of that collapse in the arts,” he added.

Islington Council has been contacted for comment.