Headteachers at 25 local authority schools in Hertfordshire had overspent by the end of the 2025/26 financial year, according to newly published data – with a cumulative deficit in excess of £5m.

But overall maintained schools across the county ended the year sitting on balances of revenue funding that totalled £76m.

The different financial fortunes of the county's schools have been highlighted in a report presented to the latest meeting of the Herts Schools Forum (June 24).

However, the report does not include data on academy schools, which the report says "does not reflect anything other than the availability of data".

According to the data presented to the forum, the £5.05m total deficit recorded at the end of 2025/26 was chalked up by 25 schools.

Of those schools, 21 primary schools recorded a collective deficit of £2.6m and one secondary school a deficit of £121,594.

Two of the county's special schools had deficits totalling £2.13m and a pupil referral unit a deficit of £163,708

The deficits, according to the report, were driven by falling pupil numbers and the "increasing demand of SEN in mainstream schools".

And forecasts included in the report suggest that by the end of 2027/28, 73 schools expect to have deficits totalling £17m.

However the data also shows that a higher number of schools are failing to spend their revenue allocation – and at the end of the 2025/26 financial year they were sitting revenue reserves totalling £76m.

Following a similar report presented to the Herts School Forum last year (2024/25), the Forum agreed to reintroduce a 'balance control', to challenge "excessively high balances with the potential to reclaim".

Schools would, it was said, face a challenge where they had reserves in excess of 15% of their school budget for three consecutive years – and where that exceeded a set amount.

Those amounts were said to be £400,000 for a primary, £800,000 for a secondary, £300,000 for a nursery, £600,000 for a special school and £500,000 for an education support centre.

According to the county council, this year (2025/26), 127 schools held revenue reserves that had been above 15% of their school budget for three consecutive years.

And 34 of those schools, according to the county council, had revenue reserves in excess of the set amounts.

They say those schools will be contacted in the autumn and asked "to provide an updated explanation of their planned use of reserves".

In a statement issued to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a spokesperson for the county council said: "Schools hold reserves for a range of legitimate reasons.

"In many cases, reserves have been built up to find future investment in areas such as buildings, maintenance or IT infrastructure.

"Some schools, including foundation schools which have greater responsibility for their land and buildings, may also retain higher levels of reserves to manage financial risks.

"The council monitor schools with higher reserve balances.

"Where a school has held reserves exceeding 15% of its annual budget for three consecutive years, and those reserves are above a locally agreed cash threshold, the council seeks further information on the plans for those funds.

"At the end of 2025/26, 127 schools had held reserves above 15% for three consecutive years, of which 34 were also above the relevant cash threshold.

"These schools will be contacted during the autumn term to provide an updated explanation of their planned use of reserves."

According to the report presented to the Herts Schools Forum, the county council supports schools in deficit "with advances of cash" to ensure they are not overdrawn.

And it says cash advances to schools – which they would expect to be repaid – are currently at £6.1m.

In addition, a spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council pointed to the additional support that was available to those schools facing budget deficits.

"Schools in deficit face a range of financial pressures," said the spokesperson.

"Common factors include falling pupil numbers, increasing levels of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and rising costs for staffing, goods and services.

"Where schools are in deficit, or forecast to move into deficit, support is available from both Hertfordshire County Council and HFL Education.

"This includes financial analysis and benchmarking, assistance with developing recovery plans, and, where appropriate, cash flow support until schools are able to return to a sustainable financial position."