Nearly all of Lewisham’s schools have faced funding cuts since 2015 at a loss of around £257 per pupil – with £8.8m projected to be cut from schools from 2015 to 2020, analysis shows.

Lewisham East MP and councillor for Whitefoot Janet Daby drew attention to the “appalling” cuts faced by Lewisham’s schools in the House of Commons.

“In Lewisham, the current projections are that 71 out of 73 schools are facing cuts, losing £8.8m in the period from 2015 to 2020.

“This equates to a loss of £257 per pupil. Would you agree that this is appalling?” she said.

This comes after analysis from School Cuts, a campaign to reverse funding cuts to schools in England and Wales, shows schools have faced cuts which equate to a loss of as much as £386 per pupil at Conisborough College in Catford, and £329 per pupil at Kilmorie Primary School in Forest Hill.

A Lewisham Council report showed school budgets were in a five per cent budget surplus overall.

The data showed primary schools in a 10 per cent surplus for the year, secondary schools in a 0.4 per cent surplus and special schools in an eight per cent surplus.

The schools budget was reporting an £18.3m end-of-year balance for 2018/19 – an increase of £5.9m on the previous year.

But there were 14 schools expected to be in deficit balances or with a loan to cover a deficit.

Of the six schools known the be in deficit, the combined total was £1.5m.

Speaking at a Lewisham schools forum, school principals said the £18.3m carry-over was a result of schools “holding back” money in order to cope with further funding cuts from central government.

Ms Daby has continued being a councillor for Whitefoot, after she was elected to parliament in June.