Nearly two-thirds of schools have increased the cost of pupil meals this year, while the large majority have had to make cuts including reducing support staff.
The findings, from regular government surveys of school leaders and teachers, also show over a quarter of schools say support with energy bills made no real difference to their financial position.
It comes after education secretary Gillian Keegan admitted last week that extra funding for schools announced at last year’s spending review “didn’t go far enough” to meet “additional pressures”.
Two new surveys, taken in January and March this year, also highlight a gap in schools complying with new uniform guidance, as well as the extent of non-specialists in secondary lessons.
