Commenting on new polling from the NFER for the Sutton Trust which shows a spike in school leaders cutting staff to make ends meet, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The NFER survey results are not a surprise. 2025-26 sees overall per pupil funding drop to the lowest levels in England in real terms for at least 15 years. The increase in the pupil premium rates for 2025-26 was below the increase in school costs and is insufficient to provide the services necessary to give these pupils the education they need. The government was elected on promises to improve schools and to increase the life chances of children brought up in poverty – holding down education funding runs counter to both goals.
“We need a radical change of direction with the June Spending Review to avoid grinding austerity over the rest of this parliament."