Almost all of Reading’s schools are set to suffer a real-terms funding cut next year, new analysis shows.

The Government will spend £123 less on the average Reading student, with only six of the borough’s 50 schools in the green, according to Stop School Cuts, a campaign run by The National Education Union.

John Madejski Academy and Reading Girls' School are among the worst affected, losing more than £200,000 in funding each of a total £2.5m across all schools the town.

“Finances nationally are under tremendous pressure. Schools are not exempt from this crisis as all state funded schools are financed via a national funding formula,” said Reading Borough Councils leader councillor for education, Ruth McEwan, during a Policy Committee meeting on November 1,

The formula will increase funds by 1.9 per cent for 2023-4, while inflation has already risen by more than 10 per cent.

The Education Secretary has suggested tackling soaring inflation is more important than protecting school budgets.

Pressed on how to stop the situation in schools worsening, Ms Keegan told Times Radio: “We’ve said very clearly the number one thing we have to do in the autumn statement is to tackle inflation, because without doing that you cannot spend your way out of inflation.

“So, without doing that, any other discussion is kind of irrelevant, because inflation will just eat up any gains.”

A National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) survey suggested two thirds of headteachers will have to make teaching assistants redundant or reduce their hours due to inflation.

In response to Ms Keegan’s comments, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “The Education Secretary is right that soaring inflation and rising costs across the board is putting enormous pressure on school budgets.

“But that is not the only cause of the school funding crisis. Over a decade of underfunding by government is what has left schools unable to cope with rising costs.

“Schools are also having to deal with unfunded pay awards, the pressure from which will not be alleviated next year, even if inflation were to fall.

“In short, measures to bring inflation down alone will not solve the school funding crisis.”

Cllr McEwan said Reading Borough Council will support schools by securing an energy contract below the governments maximum threshold for utility bills.

The authority offers telephone advice and support, training, termly conference meetings and guidance notes that include benchmarking practices for school leaders and managers.

A Schools Resource Management Advisor programme will help schools that are at risk of going into deficit, she said.

Reading Borough Council are lobbying the Department for Education over the need for a schools grant to pay for inflation for staff pay.