Dorset schools ‘struggling’ to cover costs without making savings
Teachers in Dorset are having to buy classroom supplies with their own money due to shortages in school budgets
State schools in Dorset are having to reduce curriculum choices and make cutbacks on resources due to “very tight” budgets.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) annual report on education spending said the plan to increase teacher pay by 2.8% for 2025/26 will leave “schools struggling to cover their costs without making savings.”
The IFS report estimates that mainstream school funding per pupil grew by 5% in real terms between 2019 and 2024, rather than the 11% total increase needed.
As a result, schools across the county are having to make ‘difficult decisions’, including removing certain subjects from their school curriculum.
Headteacher of Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester, Nick Rutherford said: “It breaks your heart to do it because although those subjects might only have a small take-up, those pupils that chose the subject will absolutely live for it.
“But unfortunately, now we’re having to say, ‘sorry, we just can't afford to run these very small classes anymore’ and that’s the last thing we want to do.”
It is anticipated that there will be further reductions to pastoral support, curriculum options, classroom resources and that in many cases class sizes will increase.
Mr Rutherford said: “As you increase class sizes, there’s a big impact in how much capacity teachers have to support students struggling with their subject or what staff can do outside of lessons, for example the running of clubs.
"Although we try to protect pastoral care, ultimately you can't do that forever and that of course is what then impacts on the students’ experience.”
Funding challenges
Colleges and sixth forms also face "financial uncertainty and challenges" as they must accommodate a growing student population, the IFS said.
Experts suggest that college funding per student aged 16-18 in 2025 is still around 11% lower in real terms than in 2010 and school sixth-form funding per student is around 23% lower.
Mr Rutherford has called on the Government to give schools ‘more certainty’ with regards to future funding
He said’: “Every year we find out the pay award very late in the day, so we're trying to write out a five-year plan, but we have no idea because the government haven't committed to any kind of funding.
“The Government never say ‘your funding will never go below X amount’ or ‘You can expect X level of increase over the next five years’ and quite frankly that doesn’t help.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “One of the missions of our plan for change is to give children the best start to life.
"We are determined to fix the foundations of the education system and will work with schools and local authorities to ensure there is a fair education funding system that directs public money to where it is needed to help children achieve and thrive.”