A BOLTON school headmaster has blasted enforced education cuts in the town, warning they could spell the start of drastic new measures. Sharples headteacher, Mr Bob Atkinson, told parents and pupils: "Perhaps we'll cut our own grass, maybe we'll do our own cleaning, or we could charge the primary children for the use of the swimming pool." He was speaking on cuts made during the past three years, and those anticipated for next year, at the Sharples Upper School Presentation Evening.

Despite cuts to the budget, pupils had achieved the best results in the history of the school.

However, Mr Atkinson pleaded to local and central government for "no more jokes or empty promises - just the resources these young people deserve".

He said: "Bolton's education budget has been cut by more than nine per cent in the last three years - that's equivalent to closing one secondary school and seven primary schools. There are 460 extra pupils in the system and no extra teachers."

Mr Atkinson added that his school budget had been cut by five per cent during the last three years despite 120 more pupils.

He said: "Because five per cent is £90,000, that would have paid for new text books for every pupil taking GCSE courses, or computers in all classrooms to keep up with modern technology, or three extra teachers to prevent even bigger classes, not to mention paying off the deficit."

Fundraising efforts in the school paid for decorating and new curtains in the theatre, dining rooms and corridors. Mr Atkinson said: "It's just a pity we have to rely on voluntary contributions and caretaker overtime to provide what every pupil has a right to - a quality education in a decent learning environment."

Mr Atkinson described Sharples as a school that was "beginning to bulge at the seams".

There were 233 first choice applications into the school for the 180 available places this September. After appeals 202 pupils were admitted, bringing the total number of pupils up to 937.

Despite difficulties in funding and growing numbers, the school still increased the number of pupils who gained five or more A to C grade GCSEs to 33 per cent earlier this year - an increase of three per cent on last year. Almost 90 per cent of all pupils gained at least one GCSE pass.

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