Half of schools are using funding intended for disadvantaged pupils to plug general budget gaps
Three quarters (74%) of primary school headteachers report having to reduce the number of teaching assistants at their school this year, according to new polling released today. This is despite increases in pupils with Special Educational Needs, with an increase of 19%* needing extra support in schools since 2019. The survey of 1,282 teachers, conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) for the Sutton Trust as part of their Teacher Voice Omnibus Survey, reveals a worsening picture of schools funding, with growing staff cuts along with reductions in spending for a range of activities in schools.
The proportion of senior leaders reporting cuts in teaching staff (32%), teaching assistants (69%) and support staff (46%) has increased since 2023. While reports of cuts to teaching assistant posts were highest in primary schools, more secondary school senior leaders report cuts to teaching (38%) and support staff (51%). Schools in the North East were the most likely to have reduced teaching staff, at 45% compared to between 16%-36% in other regions.
The proportion of schools cutting spending on trips and outings (50%) and sports and other extracurricular activities (27%) is at the highest level since the Sutton Trust’s polling began in 2017, indicating mounting funding pressures across the board. Headteachers in primary schools were the most likely to report cuts in sports and extracurricular activities, with almost a third reporting this (29%). Over half (51%) of school leaders report cuts to IT equipment, with the highest levels again in primary schools, at 53% compared to 36% of those in secondary schools.
