HOW sad that Trevor Burton, head teacher at Millthorpe School, has had to write to parents of all his pupils about a serious £350,000 shortfall in his school budget (“Head details cash woe in letter to parents”, The Press, April 25).

If Millthorpe is suffering then I assume other York schools are in the same boat.

Our two York MPs, Rachael Maskell and Julian Sturdy, were two of 111 MP signatories of the f40 group - representing the lowest funded authorities - who sent a letter to the Prime Minister in 2015 asking for fairer equity in pupil funding which ranges between £4,208 to £6,297.

So in three years why are we in this position and why should York be at the bottom of the class with funding?

Austerity 10 years on since the financial crash - and still no bankers in prison.

This issue reflects the inequality of our education system vis à vis public schools who even have a charitable status.

Has a letter been sent out to the parents of Eton and Harrow that they have a shortfall?

Perhaps we should follow Finland who top the education league worldwide.

No public schools; they start at seven years old, no mandatory exams, comparisons, ticking boxes, a late school start, less homework, more playtime.

All the rich parents make sure the schools are good and their children are prepared and fit for life.

The system is run by educators, not businessmen, ex-military or politicians.

Keith Massey,

Bishopthorpe,

York

Lack of funding has always been a worry

I AM impressed that the Millthorpe head teacher was able to write to all his families explaining his

shortage of funds (“Head details cash woe in letter to parents”, The Press, April 25). I presume the pupils delivered the letters and not Royal Mail.

Lack of funds has always been the bane of the ambitious state school head and it must be particularly galling to see money lavished on indifferent

universities and preening vice chancellors.

I learned my 3Rs in a Scottish country school using slates and pencils. Presumably this was cheaper than pencil and paper but how the teacher must have suffered from the constant screeching of 40-plus slates to say nothing of the scraping of her blackboard and chalk.

Perhaps the occasional belting of a naughty pupil was therapeutic.

A V Martin,

Westfield Close, Wigginton, York