Highgate Primary School has launched a new fundraising initiative, 'Friends of Highgate Primary', to bridge a £500,000 annual shortfall between its government funding and the actual cost of delivering its enriched curriculum. The school receives approximately £3 million a year from the government, but the cost of providing its full educational offering, including art, music, drama, and therapeutic services, exceeds £3.5 million annually.
Shift from principle to practicality
Co-headteacher William Dean explained that the school has traditionally avoided seeking regular parental donations, holding fast to the belief that state education should be fully funded by the state. This stance was part of a broader commitment to universal, equitable education. However, Dean noted that "times have changed," and school budgets are now under unprecedented pressure. With public finances as they are, the school has concluded that a significant, transformative increase in state school funding is not on the horizon, and the current budget is what they will have to work with for the foreseeable future.
The school's budget is spent entirely on staffing and basic running costs, leaving no room for the creative and enrichment opportunities that define its identity. These include dedicated art and music teachers, drama productions, a cookery studio, Forest School, and an award-winning therapeutic service. Government funding covers the essentials but does not protect these unique offerings.
Existing income streams and the remaining gap
The school is not starting from scratch. A large portion of the £500,000 gap is already covered by the entrepreneurial efforts of the school community. Income from after-school clubs, wraparound care programs 'Early Birds' and 'Night Owls', and summer camps is crucial to the budget. Additionally, almost every space in the school is hired out for community use outside of school hours, and the Parent Staff Association (PSA) organizes a full calendar of events and fundraising activities.
Despite these successful income streams, a deficit remains. The 'Friends of Highgate Primary' initiative aims to turn parental donations into a collective, community-wide effort. Currently, only a small minority of families are signed up as Friends, making regular donations. The school hopes to change this by encouraging all families to contribute what they can comfortably manage, even as little as £1 a month.
Community effort to protect creative curriculum
Dean emphasized that the initiative is not about large sums but about collective action. "It takes a village to raise a child, and right now, it seemingly takes a community to fund a thriving state school," he said. The school is asking families to join the effort to protect the creative curriculum that children love.
More information about the initiative is available at highgateprimaryschool.co.uk/support/friends-of-highgate-primary/. William Dean is co-headteacher at Highgate Primary School.
