Council faces £14m schools budget shortfall

A council's school budget deficit is projected to hit £14m.

North Tyneside Council's projected year-end deficit is largely made up of losses caused by the recently shut Monkseaton High School which is estimated to have lost about £8.6m.

The authority's resources director David Mason said school funding was largely driven by pupil numbers.

"[This] is why ensuring the right number of school places in the right locations remains an important part of the council's planning," he said.

Monkseaton High School closed in August despite a backlash.

The council said it had shut the school because it was operating at 50% capacity and faced declining birth rates.

Mason said the council was working with its 23 schools to reduce their deficits, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"We've already facilitated a series of independent reviews funded by the Department for Education and eight adviser visits are scheduled this year to identify opportunities for longer-term sustainability," he said.

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