Council officers said it does not mean ‘every school will receive an increase’ in funding however, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

Waltham Forest Council has received a multi-million pound boost for its education budget, but not every school has been guaranteed more money.
The dedicated schools grant (DSG) for 2025/26, recently signed off by the Education & Skills Funding Agency, will see the town hall receive around £249million, an increase of £128m from last year.
However, council officers said in a report this “does not mean in practice that every school will receive an increase”.
Schools’ funding can fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including “deprivation” and additional educational needs.
The annual settlement is designated by the central government and given to local authorities to fund primary and secondary schools. There are around 37,000 pupils aged between five and 16 years old in Waltham Forest, government data shows.
The total DSG for Waltham Forest in the coming year is £349.8m, the Education & Skills Funding Agency said in December.
That also includes £52m for ‘high needs’ services and £46m for early years provision, including support for working parents with very young children.
The previous year, Waltham Forest was handed £206m, with £121m ring-fenced for schools.
According to Waltham Forest Council’s latest local funding formula, which outlines how the money will be allocated, primary schools should receive £4,168 per pupil, up from £3,872.
That 7.6% hike will also be applied to secondary schools, which will receive £5,874 per head.
The scheme was signed off by Waltham Forest Council’s top councillors at a cabinet meeting this afternoon (14th January).
Councillor Kizzy Gardiner, the cabinet member for young people, said schools in the borough needed support after “struggling financially over the past 15 years,” in reference to the previous Conservative government.
The council in the neighbouring borough of Redbridge was allocated £424.6m for the coming year. Through that, it will be able to spend around £306m on nearly 50,000 pupils.
The demographic make-up of Waltham Forest is changing, with the birthrate declining in the south but increasing in the north of the borough. Cllr Gardiner this was emphasised by the borough being “long and skinny” in shape.
Two schools will be reducing the number of spaces on offer. Chapel End Infants School will go down from 90 to 60, while Edinburgh Primary School will drop to 30 from 60.
Both schools said those new limits reflected the number of applications received from parents.
Council leader Grace Williams said the council needed “clearer and stronger powers” to manage admissions, and the proposals to reduce the admissions limits were unanimously approved.
The council is expected to receive the first installment of the funding in early April.
However, council officers said in a report this “does not mean in practice that every school will receive an increase”.
Schools’ funding can fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including “deprivation” and additional educational needs.
The annual settlement is designated by the central government and given to local authorities to fund primary and secondary schools. There are around 37,000 pupils aged between five and 16 years old in Waltham Forest, government data shows.
The total DSG for Waltham Forest in the coming year is £349.8m, the Education & Skills Funding Agency said in December.
That also includes £52m for ‘high needs’ services and £46m for early years provision, including support for working parents with very young children.
The previous year, Waltham Forest was handed £206m, with £121m ring-fenced for schools.
According to Waltham Forest Council’s latest local funding formula, which outlines how the money will be allocated, primary schools should receive £4,168 per pupil, up from £3,872.
That 7.6% hike will also be applied to secondary schools, which will receive £5,874 per head.
The scheme was signed off by Waltham Forest Council’s top councillors at a cabinet meeting this afternoon (14th January).
Councillor Kizzy Gardiner, the cabinet member for young people, said schools in the borough needed support after “struggling financially over the past 15 years,” in reference to the previous Conservative government.
The council in the neighbouring borough of Redbridge was allocated £424.6m for the coming year. Through that, it will be able to spend around £306m on nearly 50,000 pupils.
The demographic make-up of Waltham Forest is changing, with the birthrate declining in the south but increasing in the north of the borough. Cllr Gardiner this was emphasised by the borough being “long and skinny” in shape.
Two schools will be reducing the number of spaces on offer. Chapel End Infants School will go down from 90 to 60, while Edinburgh Primary School will drop to 30 from 60.
Both schools said those new limits reflected the number of applications received from parents.
Council leader Grace Williams said the council needed “clearer and stronger powers” to manage admissions, and the proposals to reduce the admissions limits were unanimously approved.
The council is expected to receive the first instalment of the funding in early April.
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