Two schools in one of the most deprived areas of Sheppey have asked parents to stump up £25 a year to beat a crippling cash shortage.

Rose Street Primary School and West Minster Primary School, both in Sheerness, say they need the money to balance their books.

In a letter to parents, executive head Steve Davies said: "Due to decreased budgets and educational cuts we will have to reintroduce the School Fund."

The money will help subsidise trips, visits to pantos and other activities.

But the decision led to a backlash on social media with one mum writing: "Never known a school to want so much money out the parents."

But another said: "We are happy as a family to pay this."

The move coincides with a march on Downing Street today when 1,000 school heads will lobby the government for more cash.

Mr Davies told KentOnline: "We are in crisis. For the first time I found it almost impossible to balance our three-year budget with the money the government is giving us.

"We can't continue to deliver the vibrant and exciting curriculum the government demands and the children deserve without asking parents for a contribution.

"I am well aware this won't be popular with everyone but I'm not here to win the popularity stakes, I'm here to ensure the ship stays afloat.

"For years, these schools have helped cover the cost of trips but we can't do it any longer."

Mr Davies, who has been at the Ofsted "good" schools for three years, said: "The government will tell you it is putting more money into education, which is true.

"But it's not enough.

"Head teachers are normally a mild-mannered bunch so it shows how desperate we are."

He added: "Trips to the panto, for instance, are important. For some middle-class families it is normal.

"But for some of our children, this will be their only visit to a theatre."

According to latest figures, Rose Street is the third most deprived school in Kent and West Minster in St George's Avenue is the seventh.

Mr Davies said: "I know money is tight for everyone and some parents won't be able to pay.

"But we have subsidised these additional activities massively and I want to be able to continue to offer them.

"Our breakfast club, for instance, costs parents 75p a day yet most other schools charge £2.50. Others charge parents for paper and pens. We don't."

He said he had also been seeking additional grants to support the schools.

Despite the squeeze, the schools are in the top 10% of pupil achievement in the country.

West Minster' annual budget is £2.5m for 500 pupils. The school currently subsides additional services by £40,00 and wants to cut this by a half.

Rose Street has £1.8m for 360 pupils and spends £20,000 subsidising parents which it needs to slash in half.

But the £25 a year cash request has created a backlash on social media.

Some parents with one child say it is unfair they will pay the same as parents with four or five children at the schools.

The contribution to the school fund is £25 per family.

One mum asked on the school's Facebook page: "How is it fair that a person with one child has to pay £25 and a person with four or five kids in the school has to pay £25?

"I will probably be the most hated mum in the playground after that comment but I don’t doubt for one second I’m the only one that thinks this!"

She went on: "Never known a school to want so much money out the parents. Starting to think it might work out cheaper to send the boy to boarding school."

But another said: "We are happy to pay this. Each year the kids have been given a free panto trip at Christmas including transport and the younger years have had people come into the school.

"Swimming lessons, which all children get to do at some point in their school life, are highly subsidised.

"My son had a trip to Dover Castle. Although we paid for it, it would have been subsidised.

"Quite often, visitors come into the school, like children's authors for book week and the kids also take part in a drama group for free.

"I have three children in the school and I have no problem in paying £25 per child if it is used for the children directly.

"Otherwise, more effort needs to be made to support the Friends of Rose Street Group (parent teacher association)."

Meanwhile, West Minster Primary School is hoping to get a grand piano.

The recently founded Kent Philharmonic Orchestra has launched a crowd-funding page for £4,000 on behalf of the school in St George's Avenue, Sheerness.

Lithuanian conductor Marius Reklaitis said: "The school is one of the many in Kent that has suffered from drastic cuts in funding for music and the arts.

"However, it has worked incredibly hard to keep music alive.

"To help them further musical education and allow them to bring classical musical performances to their community, we are raising money to buy a baby grand piano."

The orchestra is holding its first concert at Colyer Ferguson Hall this Saturday (Sept 29) at the University of Kent's Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury, at 7pm as part of the fund-raising featuring county, national and international musicians. Tickets are £10 and £15.

Click here to help the fund