Devon school unions call public meeting over 'unfair' funding and budget transfer decision

Education unions representing headteachers, teachers and support staff across Devon are calling a public meeting to expose what they describe as a long-standing and unfair funding system that leaves Devon’s children 'worth less' than pupils elsewhere in England.

The meeting is being held at 5.30pm on Thursday 12 March at Exeter Library on Castle St, Exeter, organised by the unions NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, GMB and UNISON.

Devon is part of the national f40 group - a coalition of the 40 lowest-funded local authorities in England.

Historically, school funding has been distributed using national formulas that disadvantage large rural counties like Devon. Factors such as sparsity, transport costs and levels of deprivation have not been fully reflected in allocations, leaving Devon consistently below the national average for per-pupil funding.

Union leaders say this chronic underfunding is now combining with rising SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) pressures, recruitment difficulties and increasing expectations to create unsustainable strain on schools.

The meeting follows a controversial decision by Devon County Council to seek approval from the Department for Education (DfE) to transfer 0.5% from the Schools Block of funding to the High Needs Block for 2026/27.

Schools’ Forum members voted not to approve the transfer. However, the council applied to the DfE to overturn that decision - and approval was granted. This is despite the fact that the DfE plans to write off 90% of SEND debt from council balance sheets so long as it gets DfE approval for a local SEND reform plan.

Unions say this is a false trade off that simply creates new funding pressures on already stretched mainstream school budgets linked to a ‘Safety Valve’ agreement between the county council and DfE. Under Safety Valve agreements, the DfE effectively undertakes to bail out local authorities which have exceeded their high-needs budgets so long as they act to prevent deficits accumulating again. It has just announced that the national Safety Valve programme will end.

Steve Hitchcock, speaking on behalf of the unions, and president of school leaders’ union 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 leads directly to restructuring, job losses, reduced SEND capacity and increased stress across the school workforce - ultimately affecting children and families.

The public meeting will:

• Explain why Devon receives lower funding
• Set out what the 0.5% transfer means for school budgets
• Outline the wider campaign for fair funding
• Give parents, staff and residents the opportunity to ask questions and have their say

The unions say they remain willing to work constructively with Devon County Council and national government, but believe transparency and public engagement are now essential.

All members of the public are welcome to attend.