THE headteacher at one of the country’s leading schools has launched a scathing attack on the government’s approach to education funding.

In 2013, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy became the first school in the UK to be rated 'outstanding' in two consecutive Ofsted reports.

But in a letter to parents this week, headteacher George Croxford warned that drastic real terms cuts in funding are having an impact on the education the school is able to provide.

He wrote: “I believe education is facing the worst crisis over the 30 years of my career so far.

“This government keeps talking about how it is spending more than ever on education – it is, but that is because there are more students than ever.

“They have frozen the per pupil spending for this whole parliament which means that we, in effect, have a cut in income every year due to inflation, tax changes and pay rises.”

A report by leading teaching unions has projected that Royal Wootton Bassett Academy could see a reduction in its annual budget of almost £500,000 by 2019 - the equivalent of cutting £348 per pupil or losing 13 teachers.

Across the M4 in Swindon, the cut across all schools is forecast to be £9.7m.

Mr Croxford added: “They have put a consultation on a new national formula which was supposed to be fairer, however, it is not fair and still guarantees London schools more than 30 per cent more funding than anywhere else. Nor will it give our schools the money they need to deliver the best possible education for every child.”

He encouraged parents to make their feelings known by contributing to the government’s consultation before time runs out on March 22. “Please help us fight for your child’s future,” he urged.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray said he was aware of the letter and had been in conversation with Mr Croxford and education ministers for some time.

“Royal Wootton Bassett Academy is actually doing better than other Wiltshire schools in that they are up by 2.5 per cent,” he said.

“However Mr Croxford is quite right in saying there a whole variety of cost pressures which make it increasingly difficult for schools to break even.

“It is a problem - we’ve got £5.8m more for Wiltshire but nonetheless it’s not enough.

“The Government has been trying to find a way of equalising fair funding for schools. In some places pupils get double the amount that they do in Wiltshire - there may be some extra costs but not double and I’ve argued the case for many years that that is simply wrong.

“The Government accepted that argument and we are consulting on a fairer funding formula - the problem is there is only one cake and it doesn’t get any bigger.

“Significantly increasing funding in Wiltshire would mean taking money from elsewhere. Wiltshire has actually done considerably better, particularly our primary schools, but other places - Bristol for example - are facing significant cuts.

“Frankly I suspect that when they announce the outcome of the consultation in the summer, the fair funding formula will be dropped.”