More schools face falling into the red, and may have to 'cut to the bone' to balance budgets

And one former Bradford head says schools are having to "cut to the bone" just to balance their budgets.

Bradford Council recently released its "financial classification" of maintained schools in the district for the next academic year (2018/19). The list is updated each year and looks at which schools are in the most precarious financial state.

The table includes maintained schools, but not free schools or academies - meaning the actual number of Bradford schools facing deficits could be much higher.

The figures were released shortly before the Institute for Fiscal Studies claimed the amount of per pupil spending in England's schools has fallen by 8 per cent since 2010. Although teachers and heads had long claimed school funding was falling, the Department For Education has maintained school funding was at its highest level.

But Teaching unions say that increasing pupil number, and the rising pension and National Insurance contributions schools have to make to its staff, was leading to an impending funding crisis.

The Bradford Council figures show that of the 122 maintained schools in the district, 19 schools fall in "category A" - meaning they are in deficit, were recently in deficit or are vulnerable to deficit. Of these, 15 are primary schools and four are secondary schools.

There were 19 schools in the same category the previous year.

There are 49 schools in "category C" - schools that are forecasting deficits or vulnerability to deficit in the next two to three years.

These include 41 primary schools, one secondary school, four special schools, a nursery and a pupil referral unit. The number of schools in this category has risen by 14 from the previous year.

Among the Bradford schools in deficit is Hanson School, which last year reported a staggering £3,015,838.

At a meeting of the Bradford Schools forum this week, members, including heads from schools across the district, were presented with the figures. Andrew Redding, schools finance officer at the Council, said: "There is an increase in category C schools, which highlights the continuing financial challenge our schools face. There is an increasing number of schools suggesting to us they will will have financial difficulty in that period."

He said council officers had recently completed a number of visits to schools with financial concerns to see how they can best balance the books. A further set of visits is due to take place in September.

Adrian Cogill is both Bradford Branch Secretary and Yorkshire Region President for the National Association of Head Teachers. He is also the former head of Thornton Primary School.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: "We still see schools having staffing reorganisations and cutting down on staff that they just can't afford anymore.

"You'll see more schools cut what, just a few years ago, many considered essential. Things like learning mentors and teaching assistants who work with children who need extra support.

"People are losing their livelihood, and having to make these cuts is not good for schools, its is not good for children.

"We're seeing an increasing number of primary schools permanently excluding pupils because they are no longer able to support them in the normal school setting."

He believes most schools have already cut what could be considered non-essential staff, adding: "They are now cutting into the bone. When it will come to things like building maintenance, schools just won't be able to afford it.

"It is not just support staff, schools are starting to look at cutting teachers too." He said music and PE teachers were among those that could face the chop in the worst hit schools.

Mr Cogill added: "You will see secondary schools cutting subjects, and primary schools narrowing their curriculum."

He told the T&A that academy schools were also having to make cuts.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "School funding in England is at its highest ever level, rising to £43.5bn by 2020."