Responding to a report by Estyn which found inconsistency in the strategic support Welsh local authorities play  in helping schools manage their finances, Laura Doel, national secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said:

“We support the recommendations when it comes to being more strategic with school finances and school leaders welcome any support from local authorities.

“But when there is very little money to play with in the first place, and details needed to set budgets frequently land a couple of weeks before the start of the financial year, being strategic in financial decision-making is a luxury most school leaders do not have.

“It’s like trying to plan a recipe when you are missing the essential ingredients. Before the Welsh Government set its 2026/27 budget the Welsh Local Government Association predicted schools would face a £120m deficit and they continue to have to make unprecedented cuts to staff and provision to balance budgets. Schools are simply in survival mode. 

“When you have a government that failed to channel almost £300m in consequential education funding from the UK government to schools and the threat of it happening again under the next administration, being strategic is just wishful thinking. 

“We want to see whoever forms the next Welsh Government to commit to fairer school funding, with an end to the current postcode lottery and better support for schools in delivering the great many education priorities they are responsible for.”