Northumberland schools face a budget shortfall, with funding from the government coming in lower than anticipated, impacting future plans.
They’re set to get £341.4 million for the dedicated schools grant in 2025/26. That’s an increase from last year, but it’s still not enough.
At a recent council meeting, Coun Guy Renner Thompson said they need to cut £3.7 million from their budget. That’s a big hit. He mentioned they still need to talk with the Northumberland Schools Forum about this.
Thompson expressed disappointment, saying they can’t do some of the ambitious plans they had. It’s just not the funding they were hoping for.
Council leader Glen Sanderson also voiced his frustration. He pointed out that the council is getting about £2.5 million less than they thought. The Government claims they’ve increased funding, but it doesn’t feel that way.
Sanderson is especially worried about kids with additional needs. The number of children needing special education plans has skyrocketed. It jumped from 1,679 in 2017 to 3,369 in 2023. That’s a huge increase!
He called the funding settlement disappointing. The rising costs for supporting these students are a real concern.
When asked for a comment, a Government source defended their position. They said the previous Conservative government left a broken system. The current Labour government is promising a £1 billion investment to fix things.
They’re determined to restore confidence and make changes. It seems like a tough road ahead for Northumberland schools.
