As reported by ASCL, headteachers report cutting staff and resources, leading to larger classes and reduced curriculum options
The survey finds many schools are cutting the number of teachers and teaching assistants they employ because of funding pressures. This in turn impacts on provision – most notably class sizes, curriculum options and pastoral support. Two-thirds of respondents (67.6%) say budget cuts have resulted in increased class sizes over the past 12 months and 73.7% say this will be an impact over the next 12 months.
According to the most recent Department for Education statistics, more than a million children are already taught in classes of more than 30 pupils in English schools. The number in large classes in secondary schools has increased by more than 200,000 between 2015/16 and 2023/24.
The ASCL survey of 749 headteachers in English state-funded schools, most of which are secondary schools, also found that:
Nearly 60% will have to reduce their curriculum offer.
More than half are reducing subsidised school trips.
Three-quarters are cutting classroom resources.
Nealy two-thirds will have to cut pastoral support
62% will have to run an in-year deficit budget.
More than 40% are planning to ask for parental donations.
The condition of many schools buildings and facilities is also a major concern after years of government underinvestment:
Nearly 70% say they have classrooms which require replacement or refurbishment.
More than half have sports facilities which require similar action.
More than 40% have asbestos in ceilings or walls.
A similar number have boilers or heating systems which require replacement.
Eight in 10 respondents said they were unable to access sufficient capital funding to pay for repairs and maintenance.
Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The government regularly claims that it is putting record investment into schools but the truth is that in many cases rising costs have outstripped funding allocations. This leaves schools with no option other than to run deficit budgets while they implement cost-cutting programmes.
“They do everything they possibly can to minimise the impact on their pupils, but in the end there is nowhere left to go other than to reduce staffing numbers with inevitable consequences for class sizes, the curriculum they are able to offer, and pastoral support.
“The subjects most likely to suffer are those with smaller numbers like music, drama, technology subjects and languages. What we are seeing is the gradual erosion of the curriculum breadth and richness which is a proud feature of our education system. It is death by a thousand cuts.
“The government’s public sector spending plans currently pencilled in for the next five years are very tight indeed and add to a bleak picture with little prospect for improvement to this dire situation.
“We don’t think this is good enough for young people or the country as whole. The new government has to show a greater sense of ambition and recognise that education is a worthwhile investment in the future rather than a cost to be managed.”
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