Half of secondary schools in England are facing financial difficulties so severe that they have been forced to cut staff and reduce spending on important tasks and activities, a recent survey has found. Conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on behalf of the Sutton Trust, the survey of over 1,200 teachers from 1,000 schools highlights a critical situation where nearly half of the secondary school leaders have diverted pupil premium funds, aimed at helping the most disadvantaged students, to cover budget shortfalls.
The financial pressure has led to a marked increase in the reduction of options in GCSE subjects, with a significant jump from 29% to 33% of school leaders having to make these cuts. The number of schools cutting spending on school trips, extracurricular activities, and IT has also seen a substantial increase. Despite the government’s push for a digital revolution and increased use of artificial intelligence in schools, nearly half of the secondary schools reported cuts to IT equipment, with the situation being even dire in primary schools where 56% reported similar cuts.
Nick Harrison, the chief executive of the Sutton Trust, commented on the findings, stating that state schools are under immense financial strain, with many nearing a breaking point. This strain is affecting the schools’ ability to provide the necessary support for the most disadvantaged students. “If action isn’t taken, we will be failing the next generation,” Harrison warned.
Pepe Di’Iasio from the Association of School and College Leaders and James Bowen from the National Association of Head Teachers echoed these concerns, emphasizing the dire financial situation schools are in, compounded by the government’s proposals to increase teachers’ pay without sufficient funding.
The Department for Education, however, insisted that they have protected key education priorities through their plan for change, with a commitment to inject an additional £3.2 billion into school budgets and increase pupil premium funding to over £3 billion in the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support those in need.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/apr/10/england-secondary-schools-staff-budget-cuts
