MORE Bradford Council-run schools are being categorised as either being in the red or likely to fall into the red in the near future.

Twenty one schools, including more than half of its secondary schools, are now classed as either being in deficit, recently in deficit or vulnerable to deficit in the coming academic year in a new report of their financial health.

And out of 131 Council-run schools, a further 42 schools forecast they will be in the deficit in next two to three years, with only 68 predicting they will not need any financial support or have budget surpluses.

Last night, teaching unions told the Telegraph & Argus that although the new figures only apply to Council-run schools, it was extremely likely that academies were also feeling the pinch.

Over the past few years schools and unions have warned that schools across the district would face increasing financial pressures due to the current funding arrangements.

Although schools’ funding has been maintained under the Conservative government, it has remained relatively flat and with schools facing increasing running costs, including rising inflation, pension and National Insurance contributions, the soon-to-be introduced apprenticeship levy, and the reduction in Educational Services Grant, many say they will need to look at drastic cuts in the coming years.

A report on the Financial Classification of Schools will be presented to Bradford Schools Forum at a meeting today.

The Council has stressed the classifications are for internal use and are “not a judgement of the competency of a school in managing its budget”.

Of the 21 schools in immediate financial difficulties - which is classed as category A - four are secondary schools, 15 primary schools and two special schools. There are nine more schools in this category compared to this time last year.

The number of schools that need no extra support has fallen by eight.

Teaching unions have said some schools are considering cutting specialist teachers in subjects like PE and art, and Cottingley Village Primary School recently informed parents it was considering moving to a four-and-a-half day school week for pupils to save money.

Irene Docherty, of the Bradford branch of the NASUWT teaching union, said: “The budgets are staying the same, but schools are having an increasing amount to do with that budget, and the pressure is increasing all the time.

"All schools want to keep as many teachers in the classroom as possible, but when you have to start looking at budget cuts the biggest part of a school’s budget is paying teachers.

“I think these pressures are across the board, including academies.”

Ian Murch, Bradford spokesman for the National Union of Teachers, said: “This is all a consequence of the government not giving any more money to cope with inflation and other rises in costs.

"Some schools have already reduced staffing or reduced areas of the curriculum and unless something changes then more will have to do the same.

“Some schools will only be able to balance their budgets by cutting education standards. We regularly go to meetings where schools say they will have to get rid of music, art or PE teachers, subjects that are seen as not essential to the curriculum.

"It is exactly the same with academies. We often meet with academy trusts to discuss the same budget issues.

"The government has to do something, they can't have another five years of real term cuts to school funding."

Councillor Imran Khan, executive member for education on Bradford Council, said: “There’s no doubt about it that austerity is hitting schools.

"I’m full of admiration for what they achieve in spite of their straitened financial circumstances but there’s a limit. I hope Government is listening.

“Even Tory MPs are protesting that our children’s education should not be the subject of further cuts.”

Judith Kirk, the Council’s deputy director for education, employment and skills said: “Giving a financial classification to schools allows the Council to target support and advice to the schools who need it most.

“The increasing number of schools in category A reflects the national picture around schools funding.

"We know schools are seeing their budgets eroded by rising cost pressures which are not being met by funding.

“We provide support to Bradford schools to ensure that if any are at risk of going into deficit we can help them develop plans to resolve this. It is important to stress that the majority of our schools do not need any additional support and that the financial classification process is about ensuring the council can identify where and when individual schools might need support.”

Councillor Debbie Davies, Conservative education spokesman on the Council, said: "I think it is important we look closely at the schools that are not facing these budget problems. We need to see if it is particular schools that seem to be struggling.

"The number of schools facing these financial issues is concerning."

Councillor David Ward, the Liberal Democrat and Independent group education spokesman, said: "This is progressively going to get worse until 2020.

"You always hear the government say they are spending more than ever, but that is because our schools have more children in then than ever.

"Schools may have more money but they don't have more per pupil. These pressures will impact on the ability of schools to improve performance."

Shipley MP Philip Davies raised the issue of school funding in Parliament yesterday.

He said he was sure it was said he is sure it was "entirely coincidental" that Cottingley Village Primary threatened to close on Friday afternoons due to funding cuts a week before the General Election.

He asked Schools Minister Nick Gibb if he could confirm that no school in his constituency or the Bradford district will lose out any funding and that "there's no need for any school at all to close on a Friday afternoon".

Mr Gibb replied: "As we said in the manifesto and as I have affirmed today, no school will lose funding as a consequence of moving to the new fairer national funding system."