Unions warn of funding losses facing each school in England

Schools in England are set to lose hundreds of pounds per pupil, six education unions have said.

Between 2015-16 and 2019-20, schools face an average loss for each primary pupil of £339, and £477 for every secondary pupil, the analysis from unions NUT, ATL, NAHT, GMB, Unison and Unite shows.

These figures take into account the national funding formula but are worse than previously predicted by the unions; whereas before they predicted that 92 per cent of schools would be hit by cuts, they now put the figure at 98 per cent.

Kevin Courtney, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “Every single MP in England has reason to be worried about our latest analysis which shows how every constituency will be adversely affected by the Government’s recently-announced funding proposals.

“To avert this national scandal, Government must reassess its plans and make substantial new funding an urgent priority so that all schools have sufficient money to run an effective education system.”

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the heads' union the NAHT, said: “School budgets are being pushed beyond breaking point. The government's £3 billion real-terms cut to education funding must be reversed or we will see education and care suffer.

“Already heads are being forced to cut staff, cut the curriculum and cut specialist support.

“A new funding formula is the right thing to do, but it cannot be truly fair unless there is enough money to go round in the first place.”