Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
Education unions representing headteachers, teachers and support staff across Devon have called a public meeting to highlight what they describe as a long-standing and unfair funding system which they say leaves the county’s children “worth less” than pupils in other parts of England.
The meeting will take place at 5.30pm on Thursday 12th March at Exeter Library on Castle Street. It is being organised jointly by NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, GMB and UNISON.
Devon is a member of the f40 group, a coalition of the 40 lowest-funded local authorities in England. Union leaders argue that national funding formulas have historically disadvantaged large rural counties such as Devon, where factors including sparsity, transport costs and levels of deprivation are not fully reflected in allocations. As a result, they say, Devon remains consistently below the national average for per-pupil funding.
According to the unions, this longstanding underfunding is now being compounded by rising pressures in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), recruitment challenges and increasing expectations on schools, creating what they describe as unsustainable strain.
The meeting follows a recent decision by Devon County Council to seek approval from the Department for Education (DfE) to transfer 0.5 per cent of funding from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block for 2026/27.
Members of the Schools’ Forum voted not to approve the transfer. However, the council subsequently applied to the DfE to overturn that decision, and approval was granted.
This comes despite the DfE’s plans to write off 90 per cent of SEND debt from council balance sheets, provided it approves a local SEND reform plan. The unions argue that the transfer represents a false trade off linked to a ‘Safety Valve’ agreement between the council and the DfE. Under such agreements, the DfE supports local authorities that have exceeded their high-needs budgets on condition that measures are taken to prevent further deficits. The national Safety Valve programme has recently been announced as ending.
Steve Hitchcock, speaking on behalf of the unions and president of NAHT’s Devon branch, said: “Schools were clear in voting this down. To then apply to overturn that decision has caused real anger across the profession. Schools are already stretched to the limit. Taking more from classroom budgets to plug historic deficits is not a sustainable solution.”
He added: “Many people in Devon simply don’t realise that our pupils attract less funding than children in better-funded parts of the country. This amounts to many tens of thousands of pounds for each school. Devon’s children are not worth less – but the system treats them as if they are. The public deserves to understand what this means for staffing, provision and outcomes.”
Union representatives warn that continued financial pressure could lead to restructuring, job losses, reduced SEND capacity and increased stress across the school workforce, ultimately affecting children and families.
At the public meeting, organisers say they will explain why Devon receives lower funding, outline what the 0.5 per cent transfer could mean for school budgets, set out their wider campaign for fair funding, and give parents, staff and residents the opportunity to ask questions.
The unions say they remain willing to work constructively with Devon County Council and central government, but believe greater transparency and public engagement are now essential.
All members of the public are welcome to attend.
( Photos: Unsplash 📸 )