South Gloucestershire schools call for more government funding

Head teachers are describing a "shocking range of measures" they are being forced to take

Children are wearing coats during lessons because schools in South Gloucestershire cannot afford to turn the heating up, it is claimed.

Head teachers say the district is the worst-funded of all 151 education authorities in the country.

They describe a "shocking range of measures" they are being forced to take.

A Government spokesperson said school funding was approaching its "highest level in history" in real terms.

South Gloucestershire co-leader and cabinet member with responsibility for schools Ian Boulton said: "Our children are missing out on opportunities.

"If South Gloucestershire was funded at the average for similar council areas, we would get an extra £12.3m a year, and if we were funded at the England average that would be an extra £16.9m.

"We are not asking for a share of some other areas' schools funding, we are asking for our kids and our schools in South Gloucestershire to be given the money to do the job.

"It's no more than our children deserve."

School leaders say they are having to cut school trips and clubs and reduce the temperature in schools, so that teachers and children are left cold in the classroom, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Head teacher of a council-maintained primary school, Pippa Osborne, said: "Schools across South Gloucestershire are having to cut back on things that teachers, and I think most parents, would think could be taken for granted if our schools were properly funded."

Forum vice chair and multi-academy chief executive Dave Baker said: "The picture across South Gloucestershire is the same, whether schools are funded via the council or directly from Government as academies are.

"There simply isn't enough money for us to do our jobs properly."

Cllr Ian Boulton said children in the district "deserve" proper funding

Council-maintained schools receive funding from the government, which is funnelled through the council, while Academies receive their money directly from the Department for Education.

South Gloucestershire says its funding is the lowest in per-pupil terms in the whole country.

'Pupils and staff suffer'

For 2023/24, there were 37,748 school pupils in South Gloucestershire.

The total Schools Block Funding per pupil was £5,233, which ranks 151st out of 151 local education authorities in England.

Councillor Boulton added: "We are seeing a significant increase in schools at financial risk because despite everything they are doing to balance the books, they are still struggling to keep their heads above water.

"It is children and teaching staff in South Gloucestershire who are being made to pay, when it should be the government paying what it costs to provide for their future."

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: "School funding is rising by over £3.9 billion this year compared to 2022/23.

"Nationally, school funding will reach the highest level in history, in real terms per pupil, by 2024/25.

"This includes an extra £4m for mainstream schools in South Gloucestershire for 2024/25, an increase of 2% per pupil compared to 2023/24, and an increase of 13.5% per pupil compared to 2021/22.

"This takes the total funding to £206.5m."