John Hayes at Gospel Oak Primary School

A HEADTEACHER retiring after 12 years at a Camden primary school has warned that schools are being forced to do “more with less” saying a lack of funding and rising costs are preventing teachers from giving children the education they deserve.

After 38 years working in education, John Hayes, headteacher at Gospel Oak Primary school will work his final day in two weeks.

“I will of course miss the kids, seeing them everyday,” he said. “And my staff. Gospel Oak is special because everyone goes above and beyond for the kids. Everyone puts up with all sorts, and that’s because this is a solid group of people.”

But looking back on his time leading the Mansfield Road School, Mr Hayes said reform was needed across the education sector.

He said: “You need people who totally get it. Advisers in government that have actually done it. “I’ve spoken to heads that have been told not to speak out, and the only way we can affect change is by making a fuss about it. I’m angry because these kids only get one go at this and then we get judged if we don’t do it right. It goes way beyond teaching kids to read, write and add up. Schools are factories of social cohesion – and it’s a vocation for people that work in schools.”

In 2017, Mr Hayes stood as the Labour candidate for Hitchin and Harpenden but was unsuccessful.  Nearly a decade later, he said he feels disappointed by the Labour government, but remains hopeful the party will adopt a better message.

“When Starmer came in with his 10 pledges, I voted for him,” he said. “And then he systematically dismantled all of those. There is plenty that we have achieved in the last two years that the vast majority of people are unaware of. “But that is the problem with Labour – its communication strategy is dreadful. I’m hopeful things will start to get better.”

The New Journal has previously reported on support staff at other schools across the borough taking strike action over pay, arguing their wages do not reflect the dramatic changes to their day to day roles. But some schools, including Gospel Oak, increased the pay of support staff more than a decade ago.

Mr Hayes said: “The people who are the lowest paid in school are often asked to do the most difficult jobs. So with leeway in the budget, there were ways to pay them more and we did, but the problem is we haven’t got the money any more.”

Sixteen schools in Camden are now operating with budget deficits due to a combination of rising costs and increasing numbers of children with highly complex needs. Falling rolls have also created gaps due to the per-pupil funding system.

Mr Hayes said: “In many respects we are in a better place, our teachers have never been better trained or informed. The way we can analyse data about children and communicate, should all be leading to astonishingly high standards.

“But what is preventing us is that we don’t have the resources. The direction this is going – the messages that will come out of central and local government – will be do it cheaper, do more with less. Given that 85 per cent of the budget is on staff, the only place you make savings is having fewer of them or paying them less.”

Mr Hayes said he would still do consultancy work at Gospel Oak and at Netley Primary School in Regent’s Park. And retirement will also see him continue to campaign for a mass reform of Ofsted, along with longer dog walks and more time with his wife and grandchild. The Department for Education said they were making significant investment in the core schools budget in the financial year of 2026-2027.

They added: “This includes funding for SEND reform and the additional £1.8bn ann­ounced to support schools with staff pay awards. This means that the core schools budget will total £67.6bn, compared to £65.3bn in 2025-26.”