Almost a third of schools in Monmouthshire could be in the red by the end of the school year, a report has shown .

New figures presented to councillors last week suggested 12 of 35 schools could be lumbered with huge deficits — including Abergavenny’s King Henry VIII which projected to carry a £110,000 shortfall.

Long-term absenteeism, re-hiring, additional supplies and service costs are to blame for the overspends, according to the report.

Councillor Dimitri Batrouni (pictured), leader of MCC’s Labour group, said the Conservative members were at fault.

“This situation is directly related to Tory councillors in Monmouthshire cutting funding to our schools for the last three years. We are losing teachers, teaching assistants and we know that funding per pupil in Monmouthshire is dropping.

“Given the Conservatives plunged the local authority into special measures for education, this policy shows they haven’t learnt their lesson. They need to support our schools and teachers who are doing a tremendous job, not make their job harder,” he said.

“The recovery plan states that school budgets must be in surplus within three years.The governing bodies need to provide the authority with a budget by May 31 and if this results in a school going into deficit the council would request a recovery plan,” said a Monmouthshire County Council spokesman.