Head teachers from secondary schools in North Herts headed to Westminster yesterday afternoon to make sure that MPs appreciate the budget headaches they’re facing.

They joined forces with county colleagues in a special delegation to to press their case to representatives including North East Herts MP Sir Oliver Heald and Hitchin & Harpenden’s Peter Lilley.

Jed Whelan, the head at Letchworth’s Fearnhill School who also chairs the North Herts Secondary Heads Association, said: “Schools across the area will be facing difficult financial circumstances during the next three years.

“Many schools are predicting a deficit between their revenue funding and expenditure.

“This situation has arisen because of government failure to cover substantial increases in national insurance and pension contributions, together with an anticipated reduction in sixth form funding.

“There is also a recommended minimum one per cent rise for teacher salaries, again without any additional funding being offered by to cover the increase.”

Ahead of yesterday’s meeting Sir Oliver said: “I meet regularly with local secondary heads and have always tried to help when they have concerns about funding issues. I look forward to hearing what they have to say in detail.”

Mr Lilley said: “Although schools have been largely protected up to now from the steps taken to enable our country to live within its means they will face some challenges in the years ahead. I shall be asking heads whether Herts schools are more seriously affected than other parts of the country.”