Unions have demanded that the chancellor pump at least £1.7 billion of extra funding into schools at the autumn statement.
General secretaries of the National Education Union, NASUWT teaching union and the NAHT and ASCL school leaders’ unions warned that without additional cash, schools “may not be able to recruit or retain teachers, and will begin to cut essential provision in order to survive”.
In a letter to Jeremy Hunt, the union leaders pointed out school budgets are due to grow by just 1.9 per cent in 2024-25.
But if pay rises for school staff match those awarded this year, schools will face a 5.8 per cent increase in their costs, the unions said.
