Primary Principals Group 07 November 2017 The Rt Hon. James Brokenshire MP Secretary of State for N Ireland Stormont House Stormont Estate Belfast BT4 3SH Dear Mr Brokenshire, We, the undersigned School Principals, representing over 92,000 children across all educational sectors and all geographical regions of Northern Ireland, have written to various officials and politicians on two previous occasions this year regarding the very concerning cuts being made to school budgets. During the six months since our first letter there has been no improvement in the situation. We are shocked and outraged that of the £10million additional funding for education, announced last month, nothing is being allocated to schools. As a group of school principals we are growing increasingly concerned that our warnings are not being heeded and that, consequently our children are suffering. The lack of leadership from Stormont, the Department of Education and the Education Authority is resulting in a situation where communication is poor and often contradictory and, consequently, to an atmosphere where rumours are rife. In order to maintain basic provision for the children in our schools we renew our call for: an immediate increase of at least 7% in school budgets from your 24 April 2017 announcement; and a guaranteed year on year increase to school budgets in line with inflation for at least the next 5 years. We also seek clarity on the following issues: Some of our members are being told that budget surpluses from the last financial year cannot be accessed this year; others are being told that the surpluses are available. Why are schools being given contradictory information? If the surpluses are not available, on what basis can these funds, already accounted for within our 3-year plans, be withdrawn? Despite pressuring schools to make staff cuts that would have very serious impacts on the quality of children’s education and their educational outcomes, the EA has introduced a new layer of management, assistant directors, with salaries rumoured to be in the region of £80K/p.a. It is rumoured that the additional £50M for education announced following the DUP / Tory deal, will not reach school budgets, but will be used to make up the shortfall in the EA’s growing budget deficit. How can this be justified at a time when our most vulnerable children are being disadvantaged? Who is holding EA to account? We request an urgent meeting with yourself and the permanent secretary for the Department of Education in order to discuss the current budget crisis and to seek clarity regarding the questions posed above. We would be happy for you to meet with us all or, alternatively, with a smaller delegation. We look forward to your response. c.c. to Gavin Boyd 5 main political parties each of the sectoral bodies Dr Graham Gault Maghaberry Primary School and Nursery Unit, Moira Jackie Wallace Stranmillis Primary School, Belfast Sandra Salters Abercorn Primary School, Banbridge Stephen Moore Academy Primary School, Saintfield Alison Craig Alexander Dickson Primary School, Ballygowan Jon Beattie All Children's Integrated Primary School, Newcastle Richard Reid Anahilt Primary School, Anahilt Ralph Magee Andrews Memorial Primary School, Comber David Dickson Armstrong Primary School, Armagh Andrea Sawyers Augher Central Primary School, Augher David Spratt Ballycarrickmaddy Primary School, Ballycarrickmaddy Gloria Trueick Ballycarry Primary School, Ballycarry Dr Hazel Edwards Ballycraigy Primary School, Antrim Colm McAteer Ballyholland Primary School, Newry Sandra Sheeran Ballykeel Primary School and Nursery Unit, Ballykeel Stephen Gray Ballymacash Primary School, Lisburn Daniel Mulholland Ballymacrickett Primary School and Nursery Unit Michael Moore Ballynahinch Primary School, Ballynahinch Elaine Doherty Ballynure Primary School, Ballynure Carolyn Craig Ballywalter Primary School, Ballywalter Peter Campbell Bangor Central Integrated Primary School, Bangor Catherine Wisener-Clarke Barnish Primary School, Mary Lou Richmond Bellaghy Primary School, Bellaghy Esdille Lappin Belleek Primary School, Belleek Niky Watson Belvoir Primary School, Belfast Larissa Hunter Bessbrook Primary School, Newry Patricia Watson Birches Primary Schoolm, Craigavon Jill Neill Bleary Primary School, Craigavon Mark Vallelly Bocombra Primary School, Craigavon Paul Bell Botanic Primary School, Belfast Michael Peacock Brackenagh West Primary School, Kilkeel Diane Dawson Braniel Primary School, Belfast Teresa Devlin Bridge Integrated Primary School, Banbridge Elizabeth Davidson Bronte Primary School, Banbridge Colin Elliott Brownlee Primary School, Lisburn Máire Uí Éigeartaigh Bunscoil agus Naíscoil Bheann Mhadagáin, Béal Feirste Maria Nic Fhearchair Bunscoil An Iuir, Lúr Cinn Trá Sorcha Ní Mhurchú Bunscoil an Traonaigh, Lios na Scéithe Aingeal Nic an tSábhaisigh Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche, Castlewellan Kathryn de Brún Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias, Lorgain Séamus Ó Tuama Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, Béal Feirste J Currie Cairnshill Primary School, Belfast Raymond Ross Carniny Primary School, Ballymena Brian Duff Carnmoney Primary School, Carnmoney Roger Clarke Carntall Primary School, Clogher Anne Cassidy Carrick Primary School, Burren Alison Lindsay Carrick Primary School, Lurgan Nuala Hall Carrickfergus Central Primary School, Carrickfergus Derek Harkness Carr's Glen Primary School, Belfast Barbara Preston Carryduff Primary School, Carryduff Niall McLean Castlewellan Primary School, Castlewellan Hilary Crichton Cedar Integrated Primary School and Nursery Unit, Crossgar Sinead Beare Christ the Redeemer Primary School and Nursery Unit, Dunmurray Nial Smyth Christian Brothers' Primary School , Armagh Rosalind Cartmill Churchill Primary School, Caledon Ashley Cunningham Churchtown Primary School, Cookstown Julie Thomas Clandeboye Primary School, Bangor Liz Briggs Clare Primary School, Tandragee Barry Randall Clintyclay Primary School, Dungannon Christopher Murray Clonalig Primary School, Culloville Garaí Mac Roibeaird Coláiste Feirste Olive Collins Colcrow Primary School, Coleraine Brenda Murphy College Farm Nursery School, Armagh Neil Downing Cookstown Primary School, Cookstown Karen Atchison Cooley Primary School and Nursery Unit, Omagh Philip Chambers Cope Primary School, Armagh Jill McKee Cortamlet Primary School, Altnamachin L Dunwoody Creavery Primary School David Heggarty Cregagh Primary School, Belfast Eugene Millan Crossroads Primary School, Kilrea Christine Boal Crumlin Integrated Primary School, Crumlin Ashleigh Galway Currie Primary School, Belfast Joan McMenemy Derryhale Primary School, Elaine Williamson Dickson Primary School, Lurgan Lisa Brown Doagh Primary School, Doagh Lynne Nesbitt Donacloney Primary School, Donacloney Edwin Barr Donaghadee Primary School, Donaghadee Stuart Harrison Donaghey Primary School, Dungannon Michelle Johnston Donegal Road Primary School, Belfast Niall Stevenson Downpatrick Primary School, Downpatrick John Knaggs Downshire Primary School, Hillsborough Andrew Armstrong Dromara Primary School, Dromara Wendy McKeown Dromintee Primary School, Newry Linda Allen Dromore Central Primary School, Dromore Sharon McGrath Dromore Road Primary School, Warrenpoint Keith Spiers Drumadonnell Primary School, Banbridge Terry McMaster Drumahoe Primary School, Londonderry Alison Steen Drumane Primary School, Londonderry Gerard Poyntz Drumduff Primary School, Sixmilecross Elaine McKeown Drumgor Primary School, Craigavon Keith Campbell Drumhillery Primary School, Armagh Janice Marshall Drumlins Integrated Primary School, Ballynahinch Julie Kelly Drumsallen Primary School, Armagh David Thompson Dungannon Primary School, Dungannon Judith Hackett Dunmurray Primary School, Dunmurray Leanne Smyth Dunseverick Primary School, Dunseverick Raymond Symth Earlview Primary School and Nursery, Newtownabbey Dr Martin Sheeran Eden Primary School, Carrickfergus Stephen Wilson Edenderry Primary School, Banbridge Stephen Doyle Edenderry Primary School, Portadown Anne McAlinden Edendork Primary School, Dungannon Jim Brown Fair Hill Primary School, Dromara Alastair Mackay Finaghy Primary School, Belfast Neville Watson Forge Integrated Primary School, Belfast Lorna Rankin Forth River Primary School, Belfast Kathryn Parker Fourtowns Primary School, Ahoghill Brídín Ní Dhonnghaile Gaelscoil an Chaistil, Baile an Chaistil Ciara McBride Gaelscoil an Lónnáin, Belfast Alisica O'Kane Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir, Doire Maighréad Ní Chonghaile Gaelscoil Éanna, Glengormley Orla Flanagan Gaelscoil na bhFál, Béal Feirste Oisín MacEó Gaelscoil na Daróige, Doire Karen Morgan Gaelscoil na Móna, Béal Feirste Shauna Kelly Gaelscoil na Speiríní, Conor McPhillips Gaelscoil Uí Néill, Coalisland Doreen Armstrong Gilford Primary School, Craigavon David Corbertt Gilnahirk Primary School, Belfast Shaunagh McKirgan Glencraig Integrated Primary School, Holywood Nigel Arnold Glengormley Controlled Integrated Primary School, Glengormley Wesley Wright Glenwood Primary School, Belfast Diane Hawthorne Glynn Primary School, Glynn Damien O'Neill Good Shepherd Primary School, Poleglass Iris Wallace Gortin Primary School, Gortin Amanda White Grange Park Primary School, Liam McGuckin Greenisland Primary School, Greenisland Phil Derrick Grey Abbey Primary School, Newtownards Derek Hutchinson Hamiltonsbawn Primary School, Hamiltonsbawn Stephen Cumper Harding Memorial Primary School, Belfast Elaine Anderson Hardy Memorial Primary School, Richhill Hilary Johnston Harmony Hill Primary School, Lisburn Alison Hutchinson Harmony Primary School,