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Volunteers needed for DIY SOS as budgets won’t cover the work
10/09/2024
Its hoped the community will help spruce up Hook Norton primary ahead of school open days
Parents and teachers at a local school are hoping members of the community will step forward to help complete a number of maintenance jobs. Budgetary restrictions mean the work won’t be undertaken unless volunteers come forward.
At Hook Norton Primary School’s first Community Day on Saturday people are invited to volunteer a few hours to undertake jobs such as strimming hedges, pond maintenance, jet washing the bike sheds, sanding and varnishing woodwork, weeding and a number of other odd jobs.
The school’s part time caretaker’s time is all used on simply keeping the school operating on a daily basis, so its hoped volunteers will answer the DIY SOS call and get the school gleaming in time for a number of open days in October.
Hook Norton Village Shop is donating refreshments for those that help. People are invited to take along useful items such as gardening tools, electric sanders , a jet washer, paint brushes, wheel barrows and buckets or sponges.
Those unable to attend can still get involved by donating items the school needs, such as compost, bulbs, planters, bedding plants or small shrubs and clear exterior wood varnish.
Hook Norton Primary School, which is rated by Ofsted as “good”, is not alone in facing budgetary pressures. Last year the school’s “Friends” group raised £25,000 for school funds. In the past parent support groups such as this provided funding for items to allow schools to grow, but increasingly their fund-raising input has been used simply to keep schools running.
Funding for schools is provided by the government’s Education and Skills Funding Agency. Oxfordshire County Council follows nationally set regulations to create the funding formula, which determines the funding allocated to each school within the county.
Banbury FM told Banbury’s new MP Sean Woodcock about the situation. He said: “The Tories left a trail of devastation across education. When they left office, standards were declining, schools were crumbling and they claimed to have ‘maxed out’ on support for children.
“This government has inherited a £22bn black hole in the public finances, but a societal black hole too – that is clear in our schools. We are having to make tough choices but we are clear; breaking down the barriers to opportunity was one of the missions on which we stood at the election. That’s why we are introducing VAT on private schools in order to pay for the improvements we need to see in state schools. So that all children can have a great education.
“Labour will ensure school is the best place to be for every child, with free breakfast clubs in primary schools, and better mental-health support and inclusion for children with special educational needs and disabilities within mainstream settings right across the age range.”
Parents interested in looking around Hook Norton Primary School after this weekend’s Community Day can attend open days on Monday October 21 at 5pm, Wednesday October 23 at 10am or Thursday October 24 at 2pm. Places can be booked by emailing office.3044@hook-norton.oxon.sch.uk.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam