Head teacher has to clean school toilets

Head Teacher has to Clean School Toilets

By Darren Walshe

Who usually cleans your school or workplace?

What do you think a head teacher's job should include?

Do you think school budgets are used wisely in your country?

Multiple Choice

strict economic policy used to reduce government spending

• Tax cuts
• Subsidy programs
• Austerity

• Increased government spending

Drag and Drop

Money provided for a specific purpose, like running a school.

Placeholder

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funding

investment

savings

donation

Multiple Choice

Feeling uncomfortable or ashamed about something.

• Joy
• Pride
• Embarrassed

• Confidence

Drag and Drop

Materials, money, staff, or equipment needed to function properly

Placeholder

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resources

obstacles

waste

limitations

Multiple Choice

A person who is the second-in-command or assistant to a leader.

• leader
• deputy
• manager
• assistant

Drag and Drop

Understanding or knowledge of a specific issue or situation.

Placeholder

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awareness

ignorance

confusion

indifference

Multiple Choice

An attempt to do something, often requiring hard work.

• Effort
• Feeble

• Infirm

• Frail

Drag and Drop

A person who works without pay to help others or support a cause.

Placeholder

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volunteer

employee

contractor

intern

Multiple Choice

Lacking the money necessary to operate properly.

• Underfunded
• Financially stable
• Self-sufficient
• Overfunded

Drag and Drop

A time of great difficulty, danger, or emergency.

Placeholder

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crisis

celebration

vacation

routine

 In the United Kingdom, many schools are currently experiencing a serious financial crisis. Due to government austerity measures introduced in recent years, public schools have seen a significant reduction in the amount of funding they receive. These cuts mean that schools have less money to spend on teachers, facilities, materials, and daily operations. Austerity refers to a strict economic policy where the government reduces public spending to lower debt, often at the expense of public services like education. As a result, many schools are struggling to provide even the most basic educational resources for their students. The financial stress is putting intense pressure on school leadership to make difficult decisions just to keep their institutions running.

One head teacher, Ms. Siobhan Lowe of Tolworth Girls’ School in South London, has gained attention for her extraordinary efforts to keep her school open despite the financial strain. Ms. Lowe revealed in a press interview that she has had to clean student toilets and work in the school cafeteria because she could not afford to hire cleaners or kitchen staff. She admitted feeling embarrassed by the situation, not because of the work itself, but because it shows how little support schools are getting from the government. In addition to her cleaning and serving duties, she has had to juggle her usual responsibilities as a school leader. The lack of proper resources—such as classroom supplies, support staff, and equipment—is making it nearly impossible to maintain a high-quality education.

 To prevent her school from closing, Ms. Lowe has taken several drastic steps. She has sold part of the school’s land, cut elective subjects from the curriculum, and even fired her own deputy head teacher—an essential position in most schools. These actions demonstrate the extreme conditions many head teachers are facing. In a well-functioning school, the deputy helps with student behavior, curriculum planning, and staff management. Without that support, running a school becomes much more challenging. Selling land is also a one-time solution and cannot guarantee long-term financial health. These desperate measures show how far school leaders are willing to go to protect their students’ education, even if it means damaging the school’s future potential.

What is happening at Tolworth Girls’ School is not an isolated case. Across the country, more than 7,000 head teachers have been facing similar struggles. In an effort to raise public awareness, these head teachers wrote a collective letter to 3.5 million parents. In the letter, they explained why their schools are lacking essential funds and asked for understanding and assistance. Raising awareness is a key step in gaining support from both the public and policymakers. The letter also emphasized that head teachers are doing everything they can, but without government intervention, things will only get worse. This massive communication campaign highlights the depth of the crisis and the growing frustration among school leaders.

As a result of these challenges, many parents have stepped in to help in any way they can. Some have volunteered their time at school, helping in classrooms or with cleaning. Others have donated basic supplies such as toilet paper, soap, and even classroom stationery. In some extreme cases, schools are rationing paper and limiting printing to one sheet of A4 paper per student each month. Being underfunded to this extent forces schools to rely heavily on the goodwill of families and local communities. While these contributions are valuable, they are not sustainable solutions. Schools need consistent funding from the government, not emergency donations from concerned parents.

Despite all these efforts, the UK government has been slow to respond. Head teachers have requested meetings with the country’s education secretary, but their requests have been denied. The Department for Education continues to insist that funding education is a top priority. However, the situation in schools tells a different story. Class sizes are growing, support staff are being cut, and teachers are overworked. If immediate action is not taken, the crisis could have long-lasting effects on student performance and national educational standards. While teachers and parents continue to do their best, real change must come from policy makers who control the country’s financial priorities.

Multiple Choice

The UK government has recently increased funding for public schools.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Ms. Lowe cleans toilets and works in the cafeteria at her school.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Selling school land was one way Ms. Lowe tried to keep her school open.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The deputy head teacher at Tolworth Girls’ School helps clean the school.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Thousands of UK head teachers wrote to parents to explain the school funding crisis.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Parents have been helping schools by volunteering and donating supplies.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Some schools give students unlimited paper for classwork.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The UK’s Department for Education admits education is not a top priority.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Head teachers have met with the education secretary to discuss their concerns.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Without government support, the current situation in UK schools is likely to improve.

• True

• False

​Comprehension

​What challenges does Ms. Lowe face as the head teacher of Tolworth Girls’ School?

​Why are so many UK schools experiencing financial problems?

How are parents helping schools cope with the lack of money?

What message did the Department for Education give about the situation, and how did it differ from the reality in schools?