London schools face cuts to staff and budgets as pupil numbers fall

Since schools are funded on a per-pupil basis, declining numbers threatens funding and, in turn, education standards. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian

Schools in London could lose £45m in funding over the next four years as pupil numbers continue to fall, a report has warned, with secondary schools facing staff and curriculum cuts as budgets dwindle.

Until now, primary schools in the capital have been worst hit by falling birthrates, leading to about 90 school closures or mergers in the past five years. But the crisis is now spreading to secondary schools, which are expected to see steep declines in pupil numbers.