The Budget Reality Facing Local Schools

Barking & Dagenham Council approved its 2025/26 budget in early 2025 amidst what officials described as "significant financial challenges affecting councils across the country." For families with school-age children, these budget pressures translate into a stark reality: schools cannot provide the individualized academic support students need.
Parents are responding by investing in private tutoring—not as a luxury, but as a necessity.

The Numbers Behind the Crisis
SEND Funding Deficits

The most pressing challenge facing Barking & Dagenham schools is the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) funding crisis. According to Parliament's July 2025 debate on "SEND Provision: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham":
• The government allocated £740 million for 2025-26 to deliver additional SEND places in mainstream and special schools
• Despite this investment, SEND spending continues to outpace available funding
• The Institute for Government warns that SEND spending could outstrip Ministry of Justice spending by 2029 without reform

The Barking and Dagenham Post reported that "SEND spending could outstrip spending by the Ministry of Justice by 2029" according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies—a staggering projection that underscores the scale of the crisis.

Local Schools Under Pressure

The borough's DSB SFF 2025-26 Report highlights the financial strain on local schools:
• Education budgets are stretched thin across the borough
• SEND funding deficits are growing, not shrinking
• Schools are struggling to maintain core provision, let alone individualized support

While the government has tripled investment in breakfast clubs and increased the Social Care Grant, these measures do not address the fundamental challenge: schools cannot provide the one-to-one or small-group academic support that struggling students need.

Why Schools Cannot Fill the Gap

1. Class Sizes Remain Large

Even with additional funding, class sizes in Barking & Dagenham schools remain too large for individualized attention. Teachers are managing 25-30 students per class, making it impossible to provide the targeted support that struggling learners require.

2. SEND Priorities Consume Resources

With SEND funding deficits growing, schools are prioritizing support for students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Students without EHCPs—those who are simply falling behind—often receive minimal intervention.

3. Teacher Workload and Retention

Schools across the UK are facing teacher shortages and retention challenges. Overworked teachers cannot provide after-school tutoring or individualized support on top of their existing responsibilities.

4. No More National Tutoring Programme

The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) ended in August 2024, removing the government-funded tutoring that many schools relied on. Schools cannot afford to replace this provision from their own budgets.

The Attainment Gap Is Widening
Barking & Dagenham's Performance Challenge

According to the Annual Education Performance Review 2023/24, Barking & Dagenham is below the 2024 London average in key performance metrics. While GCSE pass rates are broadly in line with national averages, "in line with national" is insufficient in a competitive London market where 45% of families are investing in tutoring.

The Disadvantage Paradox

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds—those on free school meals, in deprived postcodes, or with learning differences—benefit most from individualized support. Yet they are least likely to access it without private investment.

The result? The attainment gap is widening, not closing.

Why Parents Are Turning to Private Tutoring
1. Schools Cannot Provide What Students Need

Parents recognize that schools are doing their best with limited resources. But "doing their best" is not enough when their child is falling behind in Maths and English—the gatekeepers to further education and employment.

2. GCSE Results Determine Future Opportunities

Research from The Guardian (2024) confirms that GCSE grades are excellent predictors of life chances and wellbeing. Parents understand that investing in tutoring now can unlock:
• University access (Russell Group, STEM programmes)
• Professional apprenticeships (Big 4 accounting, law, consulting)
• Higher lifetime earnings (£14,579+ for Maths GCSE, £12,873+ for Business GCSE)

3. Post-Pandemic Learning Loss

Many students are still recovering from pandemic disruption. Schools cannot provide the intensive catch-up support needed, leaving parents to fill the gap through private tutoring.

4. Competitive Pressure

With 45% of London families using tutors, parents who do not invest risk their children falling behind peers who are receiving structured academic support.

The Economic Case for Tutoring
Return on Investment

Research from Public First shows that pupils who received post-Covid tutoring will boost the UK economy by £4.34 billion through their higher lifetime earnings. For individual students, the benefits are substantial:
• Higher GCSE grades unlock university and apprenticeship pathways
• Maths and English mastery increases lifetime earnings by £14,579+ and £12,873+ respectively
• Structured tutoring accelerates progress in ways classroom teaching cannot always provide

Affordability Through Group Tuition

Private tutoring does not have to be prohibitively expensive. Group tuition offers affordability without compromising quality:
• Students benefit from peer learning and teacher-led instruction
• Sessions are structured and aligned to exam specifications
• Costs are a fraction of 1:1 tutoring (e.g., £30 for 2 hours vs. £40+ per hour for 1:1)

What Barking & Dagenham Families Can Do

1. Act Now—Don't Wait for Schools to Catch Up

Schools are doing their best, but budget constraints mean they cannot provide the individualized support your child needs. Parents must take action.

2. Invest in Core Subjects

Maths and English are the gatekeepers to further education and employment. Prioritize tutoring in these subjects to maximize impact.

3. Look for Qualified, Experienced Tutors

Not all tutors are equal. Look for:
• Qualified teachers with proven track records
• Structured, results-focused sessions aligned to exam specifications
• Transparent progress tracking and communication
• Flexible delivery (in-person and online options)

4. Consider Group Tuition for Affordability

Group tuition offers the benefits of teacher-led instruction at a fraction of the cost of 1:1 tutoring. Students benefit from peer learning, structured sessions, and expert teaching.

Becontree Tuition: Bridging the Gap Locally

At Becontree Tuition, we understand the challenges facing families in Barking & Dagenham. Schools are stretched thin, SEND funding is under pressure, and students are falling behind.

We offer a reliable, affordable, results-focused alternative:
• Qualified, experienced teachers (18 years teaching experience, including 5 years in SEND/SEMH)
• Structured group and 1:1 sessions in Maths, English, and Sciences
• Proven results: 100% pass rates, 2+ grade improvements at GCSE
• Flexible delivery: Hybrid in-person and online classes
• Affordable pricing: Group sessions from £30 for 2 hours

Our students don't just pass exams—they gain the skills, confidence, and qualifications needed for university, apprenticeships, and high-earning careers.

The Bottom Line

The school funding crisis is real, and it's affecting students in Barking & Dagenham right now. Schools cannot provide the individualized support students need to succeed in a competitive academic environment.
Parents must act. The attainment gap is widening, GCSE results determine future opportunities, and waiting for schools to "catch up" is not an option.

Private tutoring is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity.

Sources:
• Barking & Dagenham Council: "Barking and Dagenham Council approves 2025/26 budget" (2025)
• Barking & Dagenham Council: "DSB SFF 2025-26 Report"
• Parliament: "SEND Provision: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham" (July 2025)
• Barking and Dagenham Post: "Send spending could outstrip spending by Ministry of Justice by 2029 – IFS"
• Institute for Government: "SEND spending needs reform to stop local authorities going bust"
• i News: "There isn't enough money: Why ministers' SEND reforms are failing" (March 2025)
• Barking & Dagenham Council: "Annual Education Performance Review 2023/24"
• The Guardian: "GCSE grades a good predictor of life chances and wellbeing" (2024)
• Public First: "Post-Covid tutoring boosts economy by over £4 billion"