SECONDARY schools across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset face cuts to their funding with more than half unable to fill all their spaces.

Most of their funding is allocated per pupil but 23 of 38 schools face empty desks when the new intake arrives this September.

In Bournemouth, six out of 10 schools have a shortfall with a total of 355 school places not taken. And education chiefs have projected the situation will get worse over the next four years before it gets better.

There are a total of 551 spare places in Dorset and 171 in Poole.

Less than half the available spaces have been taken at Purbeck School, Oakmead College of Technology and Winton Arts and Media College and less than two thirds at Carter Community School.

A low birth rate for the age group involved has been blamed for the situation but things are set to change dramatically in five years time when much bigger year groups reach secondary school.

Only yesterday the Daily Echo reported how primary schools across the area are having to make room for extra classes due to a high birth rate in younger age groups.

Neil Goddard, service director for children’s strategic services in Bournemouth, said: “The demand for school places fluctuates based on many factors, including birth rates, demographics and parental preference.

“This year the number of applications has reduced, as there are fewer Year 6 pupils resident in the borough. “We project the number will continue to fall for the coming four years before the increased numbers that are currently in primary start to move in to secondary schools.”

Mr Goddard said individual schools will decide what action is needed to meet the fluctuating need.

Anne Newton, strategic director of children’s services at Borough of Poole added: “The fall in pupils across Poole this year and the impact this would have for individual schools had already been anticipated.”

She said fundings for the 2012/13 academic year is based on the number of pupils on roll in January this year and added: “This gives schools more time to implement any necessary changes.”

The numbers...

Below are the schools, the number of available places and the number of places allocated.

BOURNEMOUTH:

• Avonbourne, 216, 215

• Bishop of Winchester Academy, 150, 150

• Bourne Academy, 150, 144

• Bournemouth School, 150, 150

• Bournemouth School for Girls, 162, 162

• Glenmoor, 180, 98

• Oakmead College of Technology, 240, 114

• Portchester, 210, 170

• St Peter’s, 240, 240

• Winton Arts and Media College, 180, 80

POOLE:

• Ashdown, 184, 131

• Carter Community School, 120, 79

• Poole High, 325, 325

• St Aldhelm’s Academy, 180, 107

• Parkstone Grammar, 168, 168

• Poole Grammar, 168, 168

• St Edward’s, 179, 179

DORSET – Schools in the north and east of the county:

• The Grange, 130, 105

• Twynham, 240, 240

• Highcliffe, 216, 216

• Blandford School, 210, 150

• Gillingham, 270, 266

• Shaftesbury, 170, 114

• Sturminster Newton, 120, 116

• The Gryphon, 240, 239

• Lytchett Minster, 168, 168

• Ferndown Upper, 260, 201

• QE, 360, 360

• Purbeck School, 330, 161