300k Debt

Funding for secondary schools in Dorset is "a disaster", according to one of the county's head teachers.

Martin McLeman has told parents that Wimborne's Queen Elizabeth's School will have a budget shortfall of £286,000 in the next academic year.

It comes as a report reveals schools across England are facing their first real-terms cuts in more than 20 years.

The Department for Education (DfE) admitted the system for distributing funds was "unfair and outdated".

Mr McLeman, who is asking parents to help raise money for the school, said: "Dorset is one of the worst-funded authorities in the whole country.

"Our costs have gone up 12.5%, our income is stable. We have to fund National Insurance increases, pension increases, salary increases and even the apprenticeship levy is going to cost our school £20,000 next year and we just do not have the money for that."