The Government’s latest data on school funding shows that over 1 in 7 schools were in deficit at the end of the financial year 2023-24. This is the highest proportion of schools in deficit since at least 2010 and show a rapidly rising trend (up from 13.1% of schools in 2022-23 to 15.3% in 2023-24).
Commenting on the statistical release, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“These figures show that after 14 years of austerity schools are in no position to absorb the unfunded pay rise that the government put forward in their evidence on Tuesday. Unless the government reverses this decision there will be further cuts to educational provision.
“Primary class sizes are the highest in Europe. And secondary class sizes are the highest since records began almost fifty years ago (1977). More than a million children are taught in classes with more than 30 pupils.
“The Prime Minister came into office promising to fix schools and to employ 6,500 more teachers. Parents and teachers will hold him to his word. The National Education Union cannot accept further cuts to education.”