Three quarters of Calderdale's secondary schools are in deficit, figures reveal

Department for Education data shows three of the four local authority-run secondary schools in Calderdale finished the last financial year in deficit.

Read: Hundreds sign 'tip tax' petition against changes to Calderdale waste centres

This means their budget was not enough to cover all of their costs during the 12 months to March.

One teachers' union said the 'astonishing' number of English schools that have fallen into deficit - more than 1,500 nationwide - is the result of "deliberate underfunding".

More than 30 per cent of secondary schools are now spending more than their budget, up from 13 per cent five years ago.

The figures exclude academies, which are government-funded but are not overseen by the local authority.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary at the National Education Union, said: "Children and young people get one chance at education.

"It must not be ruined by short-sighted policy.

"This debt is being incurred despite schools taking desperate measure to balance the books such as making thousands of teachers and teaching assistants redundant, increasing class sizes, cutting subject choices, and leaving essential building repairs undone.

"Yet still the Government does nothing about the woeful lack of funding given to our schools and colleges."

In 2012-13, none of the eight secondary schools that were then controlled by the local authority finished the year with a deficit.

Read: Road closures and diversions for six weeks at Hipperholme for gas network upgrade

Schools are normally required to balance their books, although councils can allow schools to go into the red in exceptional circumstances if the amount is swiftly paid back.

Overall, six per cent of all maintained schools - including nurseries and primary schools - in the area are now in deficit.

Schools in deficit overspent by £1.7 million during the year to March - the equivalent of £417,200 each.

The figures also show the number of schools that are in surplus, which means they didn't spend their whole annual budget.

Jon Andrews, director for school system and performance at the think tank Education Policy Institute, said councils could help "ease pressure" on schools by recirculating some of the funds that others haven't used.

However, schools should not be penalised for running a reasonable surplus, he added, which is the result of good financial management.

Around 94 per cent of schools in Calderdale finished the year with a budget surplus.

But the proportion of schools operating with a surplus has fallen from 2012-13, when it was 96 per cent.

Mr Andrews said the latest figures were a "stark reminder" of the financial pressures schools are facing.

The Department for Education said they were giving more money to schools, and had allocated the biggest increases to the schools that have been most underfunded.

A spokeswoman said: "However, we know that we are asking schools to do more, which is why the Education Secretary has set out his determination to work with the sector to help schools reduce the £10 billion they spend on non-staffing costs and ensure every pound is spent as effectively as possible to give children a great education."

Read: Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team raises almost £3000 from Christmas street collection