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School pupil numbers up 21.5% in London since 2010

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"It doesn’t take Einstein to work this one out, if pupil numbers have consistently risen since 2015 then why doesn’t the Government’s funding formula for schools add up", says GMB Southern

A new study by GMB Southern Region has found that the number of state-funded school pupils in London has risen by 21.48% between 2010 and 2019.

In 2010 in London there were 1,070,000 pupils enrolled in state-funded schools. Now in 2019 there is 1,299,878 pupils enrolled. This is an increase of 21.48%.

Southwark was the London borough that has seen the biggest increase in school numbers since 2010, with a 49.32% increase. This is followed by Hackney with a 42.28% increase, Richmond with a 34.15% increase, Westminster with a 33.34% increase, and Barking and Dagenham with a 30.57% increase.

The study comes after the School Cuts Coalition, made up of GMB, the National Education Union (NEU), the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), Unison and Unite published analysis that found four out of five schools will be worse off next year than in 2015, despite the government’s pledge to put an extra £2.6 billion into schools next year.

The figures covering 33 boroughs in London are set out in the table below, ranked by the highest increase in school pupil numbers between 2010 and 2019. This is from a new study by GMB Southern Region of official data for 33 boroughs in London. It compares the number of pupils enrolled at state-funded schools in London boroughs in 2010 and 2019, and shows the increase as a percentage.
 
2010 Pupil Numbers
2019 Pupil Numbers
% increase between 2010 and 2019
  •  
  • LONDON
                                1,070,000
                                   1,299,878
21.48%
1
  • Southwark
                                      29,149
                                        43,525
49.32%
2
  • Hackney
                                      24,549
                                        34,929
42.28%
3
  • Richmond upon Thames
                                      20,743
                                        27,826
34.15%
4
  • Westminster
                                      17,032
                                        22,711
33.34%
5
  • Barking and Dagenham
                                      33,393
                                        43,601
30.57%
6
  • Croydon
                                      45,477
                                        58,213
28.01%
7
  • Newham
                                      50,686
                                        63,676
25.63%
8
  • Lambeth
                                      30,244
                                        37,909
25.34%
9
  • Kensington and Chelsea
                                      10,814
                                        13,447
24.35%
10
  • Hammersmith and Fulham
                                      16,684
                                        20,741
24.32%
11
  • Barnet
                                      47,830
                                        59,434
24.26%
12
  • Harrow
                                      30,141
                                        37,220
23.49%
13
  • Merton
                                      23,258
                                        28,720
23.48%
14
  • City of London
                                           233
                                              285
22.32%
15
  • Hillingdon
                                      42,745
                                        52,119
21.93%
16
  • Sutton
                                      32,103
                                        39,119
21.85%
17
  • Lewisham
                                      33,019
                                        40,191
21.72%
18
  • Greenwich
                                      36,229
                                        44,000
21.45%
19
  • Hounslow
                                      36,566
                                        44,281
21.10%
20
  • Ealing
                                      45,106
                                        54,512
20.85%
21
  • Brent
                                      40,235
                                        48,459
20.44%
22
  • Redbridge
                                      48,274
                                        57,635
19.39%
23
  • Islington
                                      20,719
                                        24,514
18.32%
24
  • Wandsworth
                                      29,106
                                        34,380
18.12%
25
  • Enfield
                                      49,680
                                        57,977
16.70%
26
  • Tower Hamlets
                                      38,846
                                        45,334
16.70%
27
  • Kingston upon Thames
                                      22,479
                                        26,166
16.40%
28
  • Bexley
                                      38,040
                                        43,918
15.45%
29
  • Waltham Forest
                                      37,214
                                        42,821
15.07%
30
  • Haringey
                                      34,733
                                        38,649
11.27%
31
  • Bromley
                                      46,798
                                        51,379
9.79%
32
  • Havering
                                      36,119
                                        39,409
9.11%
33
  • Camden
                                      21,758
                                        22,778
4.69%

 

Andy Prendergast, GMB Senior Organiser said: “The Government’s commitment to provide schools extra funding of £7.1 billion over the next three years, is no more than smoke and mirrors, as schools will not see the additional funding until 2022, during which time our Education system will see a shortfall of £1.1 bn.

“The figures researched by GMB clearly show that there has been a consistent rise in pupil numbers since 2015, however, 80% of schools in England will receive less funding per pupil in real terms in 2020 as compared to 2015.

“Pupil numbers have been rising since 2010 but the changes since 2015 are significant as pupils that started school in 2015 will have seen no relief by 2021 in 83 per cent of schools meaning their whole school career will have been affected by cuts.

“The reality is that as a consequence of the maths of the Government, hardworking and dedicated school support staff will be expected to bear the brunt of the consequences of reduced funding, for example been given extra responsibilities and duties without been paid for it.

“It doesn’t take Einstein to work this one out, if pupil numbers have consistently risen since 2015 then why doesn’t the Government’s funding formula for schools add up?”



Contact: Andy Prendergast 07984 492726 or GMB Southern Press Office 07970 114762
 

1] Sources and Definitions:

All schools: Number (headcount) of pupils by type of school, by local authority area and region in England on the January of each calendar year

Including: state-funded nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools and SEN schools.

Excluding: Independent schools, SEN non-maintained schools and pupil referral units.

Sources: Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics - Local Authority Tables, ONS based on DfE data. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers