Greenwich Council faces £18.1m schools funding shortfall

27 September 2026

Greenwich Council faces a significant funding shortfall of £18.1 million for its schools, primarily driven by pressures within the High Needs Block.

The issue was highlighted during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, where the Council's financial outturn for the 2025/26 financial year was discussed. The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) reported a substantial £18.1 million overspend.

This overspend is largely attributed to pressures within the High Needs Block, which funds support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The report detailed departmental variances, savings slippage, and management actions being taken to address financial pressures.

The Cabinet noted the Council's revenue outturn position for the 2025/26 financial year. While the General Fund reported a balanced position with a £0.1 million underspend and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) also showed a favourable variance with a £1.1 million underspend, the DSG overspend remains a significant concern.

Further details on departmental variances, savings slippage, and management actions being taken to address financial pressures were outlined in the report.

Councils Involved

Greenwich

Meetings Involved

the Cabinet of Greenwich Council on 23 September 2026

People Involved

Director of Resources

Councillor Joshua Ayodele Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Integrated Enforcement Labour and Co-operative Woolwich Arsenal

Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Housing & Safer Communities

Councillor Asli Mohammed Cabinet Member for Economy, Town Centres and Co-operatives Labour and Co-operative Woolwich Dockyard

Director of Children's Services

Councillor Anthony Okereke Leader of the Council Labour and Co-operative Woolwich Common

Councillor Jackie Smith Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Greenwich Builds and Estate Regeneration Labour and Co-operative Woolwich Arsenal

Councillor Mariam Lolavar Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and Communities Labour and Co-operative Blackheath Westcombe

Councillor Calum O'Byrne Mulligan Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets Labour Greenwich Creekside

Councillor Sandra Bauer Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Post-16 Futures Labour and Co-operative Kidbrooke Village and Sutcliffe

Director of Health and Adult Services

Olajumoke Hemsley

Councillor Tom Creswell Cabinet Member for Planning and Development Labour Abbey Wood

Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources Labour and Co-operative Middle Park and Horn Park

Chief Executive

Director of Legal and Democratic Services

Councillor Adel Khaireh Cabinet Member for Culture, Equalities and Leisure Labour and Co-operative Plumstead and Glyndon

Director of Communities and Environment and Central

Abdulrazak Kassim

Topics

Greenwich Council funding shortfall High Needs Block Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) overspend Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Departmental Variances savings slippage Management actions General Fund (GF) Housing Revenue Account (HRA)