SCHOOLS across the borough of Neath Port Talbot could be facing a deficit position of around £7 million according to local councillors.
The figures were discussed at a recent meeting held by the local authority on March 5, during the setting of its final revenue and capital budgets for the 2025-26 financial year.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Rob Jones of Margam and Taibach said the way in which schools were funded was of great importance, describing the current situation as a “ticking time bomb” because of the deficit some were holding.
He said: “We have 63 schools in our county borough and out of those, 19 primary schools are in deficit, two secondary schools are in deficit, and two, what are classed as middle schools, are in deficit. Last year that deficit was £180,000. This year in deficit it is expected to be £7 million.”
Councillor Sonia Reynolds of Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen and Lower Brynaman added that the situation was now a cause for real concern with pupils at risk of being impacted, as well as potential cuts to staff.
Cllr Reynolds also referenced the rejection of plans to create a new Swansea Valley school in 2023, that was proposed to merge three local schools in to one, which she believed had since contributed to a loss of money in the service.
However, Cllr Rebeca Phillips who is the chair of the education scrutiny committee in Neath Port Talbot, said the plans for the new school had been rejected because people in the community didn’t want them.
Councillor Nia Jenkins also responded by saying that the cited deficit of £7m was only a predicted figure, adding that schools with a deficit position all had an active recovery programme and were working closely with the authority.
She went on to say that the causes of the current deficits were multi-faceted and reflected across all authorities in Wales – caused generally because of historic safeguarding issues, as well teachers pay rises not being fully funded by the Welsh Government.
The discussions over schools came as part of the borough’s budget setting process for the 2025-26 financial year which will see an increase in council tax of 7% for residents in the borough.
The budget, which totals at £405m, will include £121m of spending on education and lifelong learning, as well as £127m for social services, housing and community safety, and £18m for corporate services.
A council spokesperson previously said: “This investment will be used to educate around 22,000 children and young people and to tackle specific issues such as persistent absenteeism, to meet significant pressure for specialist planned places for children and young people with complex needs and to ensure all pupils get the appropriate specialist provision for their needs.
“Currently nearly all specialist provisions are at full capacity. Historically, secondary schools in Neath Port Talbot have been among the most underfunded in Wales and this proposed budget will address this.”
