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Schools could close over falling numbers

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date12 April 2024
Publication titleEvening Chronicle
Schools could lose over £1billion in funding by 2030 because of falling pupil rolls, according to the Education Policy Institute (EPI) think tank

The report says schools may be forced to consider "cost-cutting measures", mergers with other schools, and closures due to the demographic changes.

Pupil numbers are projected to fall the most in London and the North East of England, according to the analysis.

Researchers used data from pupil projections and the think tank's own school funding model to analyse the potential impacts on school funding up to 2030.

Under a scenario where all schools receive a 0.5 per cent real terms increase in pupil-led per-pupil funding each year, researchers predict that overall funding for primary and secondary state schools will fall to £41.6 billion by 2029/30, down from a peak of £42.7 billion in 2024/25.

The findings come ahead of National Offer Day for primary schools on Tuesday.

A population bulge in England has been moving from primary schools into secondary schools.

London Councils warned last year that school leaders and local authorities could be forced to merge or close schools as a result of falling pupil numbers and funding pressures.

The number of applications for places at primary schools in the capital fell last year due to the falling birth rate, as well as families leaving the city after the pandemic and Brexit, councils said.

The EPI report said: "As pupil numbers fall, many schools will see their budgets contract as a result.

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