Almost one in three council-run secondary schools in deficit, study finds

Almost one in three council-run secondary schools are now in deficit, a study has found.

The number of local authority secondary schools running at a loss has nearly quadrupled – from 8.1 per cent to 30.3 per cent – in four years, according to the think tank Education Policy Institute.

The findings come as parents say they are having to fork out hundreds of pounds a year for core resources, such as books and stationery, and basic items amid funding pressures facing schools across England.

The study finds that the average secondary school deficit was nearly £500,000, with one in 10 of them carrying deficits that represent more than 10 per cent of their income.

In light of increasing financial pressures on schools, the think tank has called on the government to consider whether higher per-pupil funding is needed ahead of the Spending Review.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has calculated that funding per pupil fell by 8 per cent between 2010 and 2018 – and unions say pressures on school budgets are likely to increase as the baby boom moves into England’s state secondary schools over the next few years.

A recent survey found that more than two in five parents have been asked to make voluntary financial donations to schools, with some parents paying up to £30 a month to plug the funding gap.

Sarah Maynard, a mother of two children in Worthing, West Sussex, was asked to fork out £70 for her teenage daughter’s GCSE resources within the first half term. She added that the requests for money from the school seemed to come almost every other week.

“I am quite shocked about the amount that I am asked to pay for core textbooks,” she said. “There are lots of families who cannot afford to buy those extras and that is discriminatory.”

Ms Maynard, who is part of campaign group Save Our Schools, said: “We are increasingly being asked to pay for enrichment activities, such as school trips or visitors to the school.

“Schools used to say in letters ‘if you had problems meeting this cost then speak to us and there is a budget to cover low-income families.’ Unfortunately we are aware of schools that no longer have that budget to offer so they are just cutting those activities.”

Justine Roberts, the founder of Mumsnet, said: “There are lots of conversations on Mumsnet about schools asking for money, not just for extras, but for essentials such as pens, pencils and textbooks.

“Most of our users appreciate that schools are under financial pressure, but so are many households, and admitting to the school secretary that you can’t afford the revision guide or the materials for DT can feel pretty humiliating.”

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the “dramatic” rise in secondary schools in deficit was evidence that many schools have “hit the financial cliff edge”.

“This is a direct result of government under-funding and the current situation is simply unsustainable,” he said.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said: “These cuts have made it impossible for many schools to even make ends meet, and there will be a generation of children paying the price for the Conservatives’ failure.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Whilst the core schools and high needs budget is rising from almost £41bn in 2017-18 to £43.5bn by 2019-20, we do recognise the budgeting challenges schools face.

“That is why the education secretary has set out his determination to work with the sector to help schools reduce the £10bn they spend on non-staffing costs and ensure every pound is spent as effectively as possible to give children a great education.”