We were successful in our bid to have specialist status as a centre for business and enterprise.

Soon after that came the news of an achievement award, which was welcomed by staff and governors, as recognition of everyone's commitment and the improved results at all levels.

A major refurbishment of the business, ICT and mathematics areas in the main school is under way. This includes: air conditioning; repairing plaster and floors; new furniture; electronic whiteboards and projectors; a more reliable network; and a new lick of paint throughout.

The improvements should lift everyone's spirits and significantly improve the learning environment in the business, ICT and mathematics areas.

There has been a delay in getting the new mult-faith building out to tender and, at �1.2m, it's not a huge project.

I often wish my zoology degree had been in building or project management!

How will staff cope? I don't have the answers January 03 article October 02 article

However, I think in terms of square metre costs and have won the battle on classroom sizes.

Slightly wider corridors with built-in spaces for lockers will be a real luxury and should encourage a calmer atmosphere in the new building block.

Financial concerns

Early in the last financial year, it became clear that our six unexpected maternity leaves, long-term staff absence and reduced post-16 funding would leave us in deficit, so a 3% overspend was not as bad as predicted.

However, the promise of "more" was short-lived and we continue to survive on a "don't ask, there isn't any" rule.

Fortunately, we are beneficiaries of Excellence in Cities, Excellence Challenge and Leadership Incentive Grant.

Without these initiatives, we could not sustain our current position re: excellent mentors; external counsellors; very successful work-related learning programme; Easter revision classes.

It was disappointing and worrying to see several fragile Standards Funds disappear at the same time as increases in National Insurance and superannuation contributions, as well as pay rises.

We are currently predicting a larger deficit by 2004. I cannot understand why the DfES/Treasury seemed unaware that schools would be so under-funded this year.

Staff cuts

Education Leeds insists that a four-year plan is in place to address the deficit. Many schools will have the same problems to manage. How will we cope?

We will be reducing five full-time contracts to just over half-time, as requested by staff.

There are now 18 part-time teachers, many of whom need the same pattern of days in each of our two-week cycle to fit in with their child care arrangements.

We will increase some class sizes and very reluctantly will reduce the contact time for post-16 courses to eight hours per two-week cycle.

We will aim to generate more income, year on year, with lettings, bid for anything that attracts funding and increase the number of pupils staying on after 16 by offering more vocational courses.

In the future, we could cope through the government funding schools directly and re-instating the Standard Funds on a permanent basis, allowing real strategic planning to take place.

What does the future hold?

If the Chancellor gave the school additional funding what would be the priorities?

• Paying off the deficit?
• Stopping the curriculum cuts?
• Setting up a multi agency, inclusion unit in the hope of reducing our six permanent and 600+ days of temporary exclusions?
• Allocating funding for staff development?
• Employing staff to do cover, so colleagues could rely on non-contact time to differentiate their lessons, assess their students' work and review their targets?

Not easy choices. Will any of these be possible? Best to assume not.

How will staff cope? I don't have the answers, but it won't be without the pressure affecting people's general health, well being and the quality of their personal lives.