With 42% of secondary schools facing a deficit budget this year, urgent financial support is needed to help them cope with the cost of living crisis and to prevent further cuts to educational provision.
New figures show that 41% of secondary schools had or are expecting to have an in-year deficit in 2022/23, while 42% expect to have a deficit in 2023/24 – on top of needing to make cuts to provision.
The report (Lucas et al, 2023) has been published by the National Foundation for Educational Research, Nuffield Foundation and ASK Research and warns that 29% of secondary schools are also asking parents for extra funds to accommodate cost-of-living pressures.
It reveals exactly what provision secondary schools are cutting in order to try and balance the books (see below).
