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

Demand for year 7 pupils is expected to fall by 7.6% over the next four years, with similar numbers expected in primary schools

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 birth rates, 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.