Job cuts planned at Queen Elizabeth's School in Wimborne
School cites low birth rates among reasons for redundancies
Last updated 12th Feb 2026
Queen Elizabeth's School in Wimborne has announced plans for staff redundancies, attributing the decision to funding cuts in education rather than solely to low birth rates.
The exact number of job cuts remains unconfirmed, but the school aims to maintain high-quality teaching for its pupils despite the financial challenges.
Thomas Neill, Headteacher of Queen Elizabeth's School, explained that the redundancies are part of a strategy to manage "extremely challenging financial conditions".
He emphasized the school’s commitment to offering a comprehensive curriculum in future academic years.
In a statement sent to us, it read: "Unfortunately, we are going through a round of redundancies at QE this spring.
"This is driven by a number of factors, including funding cuts in education, rather than just falling birth rates.
"We are working tirelessly to improve the quality of education across our curriculum and will still be running a wide range of subjects across all areas next academic year."
We also understand staff will be fully supported throughout the redundancy process - and they're making it their priority to preserve the range of A-Level and GCSE subjects which they offer.
A DfE spokesperson said: “We recognise the pressures caused by demographic changes which some schools across the country are facing.
“Our system is designed to give schools more certainty over funding levels so they can plan ahead. School funding is increasing by £1.7 billion in 2026-27, and the additional funding announced at the Spending Review will deliver an above-real-terms per-pupil increase up to 2028–29.
“Work has already begun to help schools get the best value for money on areas like energy, recruitment, and banking, so every penny is invested in delivering opportunities for young people so they can achieve and thrive.”