Northumberland sees a record high of surplus school places, raising concerns about funding and future educational needs in the area
Northumberland: The number of surplus school places in Northumberland has hit a staggering 10,034, which is about 21% of all available spots. This situation is causing quite a stir since schools rely on funding based on how many students they have.
Most of these surplus places are found in the rural areas of the county. For instance, the Haydon Bridge Partnership has the highest surplus at 48%, while Berwick follows with 33%. In contrast, Seaton Valley has the least, with only 3%.
Interestingly, even though the population is expected to grow by 4.4% over the next couple of decades, the number of kids aged zero to 15 has been on a steady decline. From 2001 to 2021, that age group dropped from 57,500 to 51,721.
During a recent council meeting, Sue Aviston, who oversees school organization, pointed out a 1.5% drop in the number of school-aged children. She noted that the birth rate is falling nationally, which is hitting some areas harder than others, especially in the far north and west.
Aviston mentioned that they’re seeing fewer kids coming from neighboring areas, which is also linked to the declining birth rates. Their plan is to adjust admission numbers to balance out student distribution across partnerships.
However, not everyone is on board with these changes. The decision to cut admission numbers at the popular Sele First School in Hexham has faced backlash from teachers and local leaders. Councillor Suzanne Fairless Aitken called the move “brave,” emphasizing the importance of parental choice while also stressing the need to protect rural schools.
Despite these challenges, it’s worth noting that only one school, West Woodburn, has closed in Northumberland since 2020. So, while the situation is tricky, there’s still hope for the future of education in the area.
