Head to next week’s meeting on school cuts at Rhyl Primary School

A SURGE in demand for schools places for children with special education needs is contributing to a funding crisis that has become “impossible to manage”, headteachers warned ahead of a public rally.

Camden’s branch of the National Education Union and Unison are planning to launch a series of summer protests with a meeting at Rhyl Primary School on June 24.

It follows publication of figures showing an unprecedented one-in-four schools in Camden having to budget for significant cuts this September.

While schools are being hit by cash crises caused by a drop in primary school admissions, demand for places for children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) is rocketing.

And the NEU has said it expects a national ballot on strike action if teachers’ pay dispute is not resolved.

Speaking in a personal capacity, Don McGibbon, headteacher at Fleet and Rhyl primaries, told the New Journal: “In Camden – and across inner London – schools are facing a funding crisis that is becoming impossible to manage. It’s not one single issue, but the combination of several pressures coming to a head.

“Falling pupil numbers across the borough mean falling budgets, as school funding is directly tied to how many children are on roll – just a few spaces can lead to a large reduction in overall funding and for many schools vacancy percentages are in double figures.

“At the same time, we’re seeing a growing number of children with the most complex needs and higher levels of SEND, who require more intensive staffing and support. While there is some additional funding for the highest levels of SEND, it does not come close to covering the actual cost of staffing and provision required.”

He added that costs of staffing, energy, maintenance, and resources were also rising, and “the sums simply do not add up”.

In some cases, schools are setting “deficit budgets” forcing cutbacks that are deeper than ever before.

“For schools serving communities with high levels of deprivation, this isn’t just about budgets – it’s about equity,” he said.

“The kinds of enrichment opportunities, partnerships, and wraparound support that help level the playing field are exactly what we’ve already had to scale back and will scale back further. Be that trips, residential, clubs, specialist workshops and events. This risks widening the very gaps we’re working so hard to close.”

He added: “This meeting is about bringing people together – parents, staff, unions, and the wider community – to understand what’s happening, to share what’s at stake, and to speak up for the future of our children’s education.”

John Hayes, a head at Gospel Oak school, also warned of a “deepening crisis” in provision.

Despite national discussions on educational needs, the daily reality for Camden’s schools, children and families often falls short of equitable provision, adding: “For Camden’s education sector to truly fulfil its potential and ensure every child in our community has the opportunity to succeed, a comprehensive and adequately funded approach is essential.

“This must include a funding model that genuinely reflects the rising costs of provision and provides dedicated, sufficient resources for SEND, preventing further strain on school budgets and ensuring equitable outcomes for all pupils across Camden.”

The heads’ warnings come as new figures show 12 of Camden’s 51 schools reported a deficit last year – up from eight schools the year before.

St Aloysius in Somers Town, St Dominic’s and Carlton in Gospel Oak, have shut in recent years due to a fall in admissions.

Schools get funded on how many pupils they have under a “pupil funding formula” that has been criticised by unions for many years.

Last Wednesday schools chiefs met at the Town Hall to discuss a report that warned of a “significant and unplanned increase in costs” in the SEND budget.

In 2024/25, the council was forced to draw £5million from its reserves to plug its SEND funding gap, after spending surged by more than £8million, the report said.

Megan Quinn, branch secretary of Camden NEU, said: “One of the reasons this meeting is happening is because of the latest analysis showing schools’ budgets will once again be worsening from September. We estimate 75 per cent forced to make cuts next year.

“There is also the factor of the falling rolls and the additional pressure that is placing on Camden schools.”

Camden schools chief Cllr Marcus Boyland said: “We know this is a challenging time for our schools, and we are doing everything we can to support them.

“As with other central London boroughs, Camden has experienced a significant drop in demand for school places, but we have taken steps to address this, including closing and merging schools and managing spare capacity by providing further space for special educational needs and early years services.”