A Dorset school has revealed it already has to rely on alternative forms of funding amid claims of a £7 million cut to school spending.

Data from the National Education Union (NEU) school cuts website has revealed that the cut in funding across Dorset could result in a £167 fall in funding per pupil.

The news comes as data released by the government has shown a cut to the annual growth in funding in cash terms from 8 per cent in 2023/4 to 3.1 per cent in 2024/5. 

Dorset Council, however, says that funding per pupil has risen for 1.6 per cent per pupil for its school block allocation.

This is money allocated to schools independently of any factors relating to pupils. 

Headteacher of The Prince of Wales School, Gary Spracklen, has revealed his school already has to rely on alternative ways to raise funds when these claims were put to him.

He said: "I think that is the challenge, it is a real terms cut, that is the reality.

“Cost are always rising, whether that’s staffing costs or pencils, paper, and copying, all those contracts going up .

“We have become very reliant on the additional activities at the school through lettings, running courses or the work of our PPA-  we have a very active PPA that ensure we keep going.

“Whilst we have these financial challenges, having the support of community is essential to ensure that children continue to engage with school and inspired to learn.”

Dorset Council has hit back at the data released by the NEU but admits it was a 'challenging' budget to set.

A spokesperson for Dorset council said: "The school cuts website has used notional figures for the National Funding Formula (NFF) as a proxy for the Schools Block allocation, they have also added in an estimation for pupil premium and teachers pay additional grant – therefore these are not final figures for 2024-25.

“It was a challenging budget to set with an increase of only 1.9% on 2023-24 NFF.

“The schools block average per pupil funding for Dorset has increased by 1.6%."

The council says it has submitted its budget to the Department for Education and will inform schools in February once their allocations are known. 

It has also challenged the NEU methodology as it differs from that of the governments NFF and says that its schools block allocation has seen a 0.7 per cent increase overall, which they say is due to a fall in the number of pupils.

The issue has also led to to calls for a government review into school funding.

West Dorset Liberal Democrat candidate for Parliament, Edward Morello, said:

“Schools in west Dorset are having to try and maintain standards in the face of continued cuts to funding. This should be a concern for us all, whether you are a parent like me or not.

“The Treasury needs to urgently look at increasing school funding."

MP for west Dorset Chris Loder also responded to the call for a review into school funding.

He added: “Later this year, school funding will be at its highest level in history - 5.5 per cent higher in real terms per pupil in 2024-25 compared to 2010 using National Statistics data - the routine measure of public spending.

“That includes an additional £2 billion for both this year and next, over and above the totals announced at the 2021 Spending Review, recognising the higher costs schools are facing and matching what the unions told us was needed.

“It also includes further additional funding announced last July, to support schools with the teachers’ pay award and it means an additional £1.75 million for us in Dorset."

“The UK Statistics Authority has previously rebuked the NEU’s ‘school cuts’ website it for being misleading. Their current figures are based on assumptions that they won’t explain.”