news story

11th October 2008

New survey shows local schools feel pinch from rising costs and falling numbers

A new survey by Northavon MP Steve Webb has shown that South Gloucestershire schools are facing a financial squeeze from increasing costs and falling pupil numbers.

The MP surveyed schools across his constituency and received responses from six major local secondary schools and more than twenty primary schools, asking what impact rising fuel bills and other costs were having on them. Whilst many schools were protected in the short term from rising gas and electricity costs by a three-year deal organised by the Council, some feared that their bills could soar by 50% when the deal ran out in 2010.

In replies to the survey, major cost pressures listed by schools included heating oil (up by 20% compared with budgets), software and consumables for computers, rising costs of coach trips and extra-curricular activities and increases in the costs of building projects. Many schools feared that the budget situation would get worse with the comment that "next year will be very difficult and may well involve staff cuts" being typical. A number of schools were using voluntary fundraising from parents' associations to pay for school trips and books for class libraries, whilst one said it asked parents for contributions for day-to-day items such as stationery.

On the income side, all schools felt pressure from South Gloucestershire's low funding level, and this was made worse in areas where falling pupil numbers meant schools had surplus places. One large local school said it was already running a 'deficit' budget for the current year and another warned that balances were 'dangerously low'.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Steve Webb said:

"It is clear from my survey that local schools are very anxious about the financial position over the next few years. Quite rightly, schools already have to watch every penny and cut out unnecessary expenditure, but there is a danger that more schools will have to cut staffing levels over the next few years unless the funding situation improves.

"I will be sending a copy of the results of my survey to the local Council which will need to work very closely with individual schools to minimise the impact of the financial squeeze that they are facing. I will also be stepping up pressure on the Government for a fairer funding deal for South Gloucestershire's schools. Once again, we are seeing the impact of a funding level that is lower than almost anywhere else in the country".