A school leader’s union has hit back at claims by Wrexham Council’s leader and lead member for education suggesting teacher and teaching assistant redundancies are being driven largely by falling pupil numbers. 

Laura Doel, national secretary for school leaders' union NAHT Cymru, said: “To suggest that the severe financial challenges facing many schools in Wrexham are purely the result of falling pupil rolls is deeply misleading. 

“Falling rolls are a reality, but they only tell half the story, and the comments from these senior councillors hide their authority’s role in fuelling the funding crisis.” 

Ms Doel pointed out that Wrexham Council had cut school funding by 5% for the year 2024-25.  

“This cut has never been reversed, so it amounts to about 15% over three years,” she said. “That cut was imposed regardless of school numbers.” 

While an additional 5.6% is being invested in Wrexham schools this year, she said 4.9% of this came from the Welsh Government, meaning the 0.7% proportion coming from Wrexham Council represented a big real-terms cut. 

“School leaders are not making cuts because they have too many staff,” said Ms Doel. 

“They are being forced to lose much-valued teachers and support staff, and cut educational provision, and with the best will in the world this inevitably has a very real impact on pupils’ leaning. 

“To hear councillors trying to wash their hands of any responsibility for this and again suggest some schools are not managing budgets properly, will be hugely demoralising. 

“The truth is that investment from both central and local government has been insufficient throughout Wales over the last decade and has failed to keep pace with the increasing demands and costs being placed upon schools. Eventually, chickens come home to roost.” 

Ms Doel said that falling rolls did create additional difficulties.

“A school’s fixed staffing costs do not necessarily fall in line with pupil numbers.  Other issues affect costs too, such as the proportion of pupils with additional needs who require support from teaching assistants, along with their type of need, and levels of deprivation. 

“Trends can change over time, so rather than reducing funding, we are calling for it to be protected and in the meantime help schools offer smaller classes and deliver more targeted help for pupils who need it.”