ONE of Salisbury’s top state schools has warned it may have to axe staff and some subjects if proposed funding cuts go ahead.

Girls’ grammar South Wilts stands to lose almost £125,000 a year under the government’s new National Funding Formula (NFF) and head teacher Michele Chilcott says it could also mean larger classes and fewer extra-curricular activities.

The NFF is an attempt to share money between schools more fairly from 2018. Wiltshire schools are currently among the worst-funded in the country.

The school had hoped the formula would be a boost to its funding, but instead it stands to lose 2.9 per cent of its overall income – the maximum reduction allowed. Bishop Wordsworth’s School also stands to lose 2.9 per cent.

In a letter to parents, Ms Chilcott said the school’s annual funding had already been “significantly reduced” by £394,000 due to government austerity measures, while staff costs had risen by £481,000 – a total loss of £875,000 a year.

She said the school had coped over the past three years through “prudent management” of its budget and by gradually increasing pupil numbers from 128 to 160 per year group.

But further funding cuts would be “manifestly unfair given the starting position of Wiltshire schools”, she said, adding that the school was “extremely reluctant” to ask parents for further voluntary contributions.

Salisbury MP John Glen said he had spoken to education secretary Justine Greening twice on the matter, raised it in the Commons, and was taking both head teachers to lobby schools minister Nick Gibb directly.

He pointed out that while Salisbury UTC also stood to lose funding, the other eight schools in the constituency stood to gain.

“I am proud that our government is willing to tackle the unfairness in school funding but the detail must be right.”