Hundreds of parents to protest in Westminster against shorter school weeks forced by funding cuts

It comes amid reports of more schools looking to close at lunchtime on Fridays

Headteachers march on Downing Street to demand extra cash for schools in September 2019 (PA)

Hundreds of parents from across the country are set to march on Westminster to demonstrate against funding cuts that have forced schools to close at lunchtime on Fridays.

Campaign group Save Our Schools will bus children and parents from across the country to London on 5 July to oppose the rising number of schools bringing in four-and-a-half-day weeks amid tight budgets.

It comes after Labour MP Jess Phillips launched a crowdfunding page, which raised more than £10,000, to take children affected by shorter school weeks to Downing Street to protest.

Alison Ali, co-founder of the Save Our Schools campaign, said the group had decided to mobilise parents nationally following reports of schools across the country discussing shortening the week.

“Working parents have several hours of their child not actually being educated and there are questions for some about what quality of childcare their children will be given,” she said.

Ms Ali added: “Schools are unable to provide the education to our children while we are working and that is a big issue.”

When setting up the fundraising campaign in March, Ms Phillips said she knew of at least 16 schools in Birmingham that were looking to close early on Fridays.

Campaigners, who are reaching out to parents across the country encouraging them to take part, say there are now 23 schools in Birmingham which are either part-time or going part-time in September.

Parent Lisa Hebrard, from campaign group Save Our Schools West Midlands, said: “Children will lose 10-plus hours learning each week which will have an impact on their education.

“Children have the right to a full five-day week and the right to reach their full potential.”

Kings Heath Primary School is one of the schools in Birmingham that will close its doors early on Fridays.

More than 400 parents at the school are planning to send letters to the education secretary this month calling for more funding.

Pupils from the school will travel to Westminster on the afternoon of 5 July to join the protest.

It comes after headteacher Shirley Hanson said it was “devastating” the school could not afford to stay open for five days a week.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told The Independent: “We wholeheartedly support parents in their fight for improved school funding.

“We have repeatedly warned the government that the level of funding allocated to schools is totally inadequate and that this is damaging educational provision.”

He added: “Schools have been placed in an impossible position over where to make cuts and have had to take a range of actions including shortening the school week.

“It is absolutely vital that school funding is improved urgently and significantly.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The structure of the school week should never be the cause of inconvenience to parents and carers, and it is unacceptable for schools to shorten their school week when it is not a direct action to support and enhance their pupils’ education.

“The education secretary has made clear that as we approach the next spending review he will back headteachers to have the resources they need to deliver a world-class education in the years ahead.”

The DfE added schools in Birmingham receive per-pupil funding that is “significantly above” the national average and the budget to support special educational needs pupils has increased.