SCHOOL leaders are having to rely on community fundraising, charity grants and parental donations to plug funding gaps for classroom essentials, a union has warned.

The majority of school leaders in England have had to generate additional income to cover the cost of basic resources, a survey by school teachers’ union NAHT found.

One headteacher said his school relied on contributions of tens of thousands of pounds from parents to help pay for the equipment and resources needed.

A poll released today found only 1 per cent said they currently receive enough funding to fully meet the needs of all their pupils.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said school leaders are having to go “cap in hand” to communities to afford teaching staff, classroom materials and play equipment at a time when many families are struggling.

Sean Maher, headteacher at Richard Challoner School in Kingston-upon-Thames, said the school relied on contributions of around £45,000 a year from fundraising by the Parent Teacher Association and £35,000 from parents to help pay for equipment, resources and repairs.

He said: “I’ve never known the budget situation so dire. Everywhere you look there’s a squeeze on funding.

“We’ve already cut admin staff to the bone and we’ve had to lose four teaching assistants and three teachers over the last two years.

“Sometimes that means existing teachers have to take on more, sometimes we have to make changes to the curriculum which may mean it is not quite as broad and balanced.

“It’s an unacceptable situation and these decisions are not in children’s best interests. It’s becoming harder to maintain our status as an excellent school.”