HERNE Junior School is facing a financial shortfall for the coming year of £30,000 to £60,000 that will force staff reductions as its headteacher campaigns for more money from the government.

Herne head Tony Markham is the Hampshire leader of the Worthless Campaign, a national coalition of headteachers lobbying for an improved funding deal for schools.

He said: "Many junior schools are facing, or already in, financial crisis, and at Herne there is no money in reserve. There won’t be enough money to run the school for the year from April.

"I am looking at teachers’ hours and temporary contracts won’t be renewed. Support workers on ’hours’ contracts will see them reduced as well.

"We are working hard to avoid this impacting on pupils."

In an unprecedented move, Mr Markham and other headteachers have written to parents explaining the situation.

The letter says: "Schools are still not being provided with adequate funding and resources to deliver the support that is expected and that families and children deserve."

Mr Markham added: "Headteachers wouldn’t usually take such drastic action. It shows just how much we are struggling. We can’t make budgets balance and schools are already asking parents to buy basic equipment.

"Governors and parents at Herne have been very supportive of my part in the campaign.

"If education is an investment, we shouldn’t have to ask parents to buy pens and books."

East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds is the secretary of state for education and has yet to meet campaign representatives, despite requests to do so.

A spokesman said Mr Hinds had negotiated an extra £750m for schools, regularly met teachers and unions, and that school funding was a priority.