Students Launch Petition Against Cuts to State School Budgets

George Fitchett, Head Prefect at Wymondham High Published: 04 December 2024

George Fitchett (the author) second from the top right.

Students at Wymondham High Academy have launched a petition opposing Norfolk County Council’s decision to cut special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support funds. The budget reduction, announced last June, has affected all state schools in Norfolk and has cost millions of pounds collectively.

At Wymondham High, this has meant two loyal members of the senior leadership team (SLT) have been made redundant. Students and staff are both deeply disappointed at this outcome, with many classes now changing teachers, massively disrupting their learning. In Year 11 classes, this has come just weeks before mock exams and months before final examinations.

However, this has not been the only negative effect. In addition to redundancies, many staff who resigned have gone unreplaced and the use of some online resources for students are having to be reconsidered.

Unfortunately, this policy and its effects are not just exclusive to Wymondham High. Many academies, particularly SEND specialist schools, are facing extreme financial problems, with the prospect of bankruptcy a reality for some.

Scan this code to go to the petition!.

Consequently, we, a group of students at Wymondham High have come together in opposition to this policy. We will not allow our education to be affected by reductions to budgets and so we have begun a petition for the County Council to reconsider this policy.

We believe everything about this policy is wrong. It is wrong to cut education. It is wrong for that money to come out of SEND support funds. It is wrong to give schools such a short window to adapt. The list goes on.

Without your support, we can’t change this. But with enough signatures, we believe that we can make the County Council reconsider this decision. Please, we urge you to sign this petition and help us stand up for education.

As well as signatures, we are also looking for all kinds of help: councillors on all levels to support our cause, volunteers to help promote our message and students from other schools to spread this petition as far as possible. If you think you can help us, please email us at petitionagainstbudgetcuts@gmail.com.