LGA RESPONDS TO EPI REPORT ON SCHOOL FINANCES

Responding to an Education Policy Institute report on the state of school finances in local authority and academy schools in England, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:

“These findings are further evidence of the funding pressures schools and councils are under, including support for children with special needs, which faces a shortfall of £472 million this year alone.

“Council-maintained schools can if absolutely necessary, run up a deficit on licence from the local authority, providing there is a full plan to show how the finances are going to be brought back into balance as soon as possible.

“This tends to happen if, for example, maintained schools have had to expand to meet demand for school places in their areas and are waiting for government funding to catch up with increased numbers of pupils.

“However as the report shows, it is important to note that there are more schools with positive balances than in deficit.”