School finances and SEND provision at ‘crisis point’, governors warn

School finances and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in England have reached crisis point, according to new findings from the National Governance Association (NGA).

The figures, drawn from the NGA’s Annual Governance Survey 2025 and published at its National Governance Conference on 10 July, reflect input from more than 3,000 governors and trustees.

Nearly 70% of governing boards now say balancing the budget is their top challenge – the highest level recorded in the survey’s 15-year history. Just 16% consider their school or trust financially sustainable in the medium to long term under current funding.

SEND provision is also under severe strain, with the system described as “broken” and in urgent need of reform. Some 63% of boards identified SEND as a top challenge this year, up from 37% in 2024, with more than half making it a strategic priority. However, 84% reported difficulties accessing funding, and 67% said securing Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans remains a barrier.

It also found that only 54% of schools and trusts are currently able to balance income and expenditure, while 45% are relying on efficiency savings to remain viable. Half of boards are considering staffing restructures, 55% are renegotiating contracts, and 36% are planning for falling pupil numbers – particularly in early years and primary phases.

Nearly 60% of schools are now offering additional services beyond their core remit, with one in five reporting significant pressure from these wider responsibilities.

The NGA is calling for immediate increases in high-needs funding to meet rising SEND demand, reinvestment of funding from falling rolls to secure fairer per-pupil and pupil premium allocations, urgent capital investment to address unsafe buildings, and a long-term plan to support the workforce and secure school sustainability.

Despite these pressures, governance remains resilient, with 85% of governors and trustees believing their board had a positive impact over the past year. Safeguarding concerns are rising, particularly around bullying, neglect and domestic abuse, with nearly half of boards noting an increase.

Staff wellbeing and workload (64%), pay (35%) and calls for flexible working also remain key issues. Interest in joining multi-academy trusts is at its highest level yet, with only 42% of boards ruling it out. Ethnic minority representation on governing boards has increased slightly to 7%.

Sam Henson, deputy chief executive of the NGA, said: “This year’s findings confirm what governing boards have been telling us for some time, school finances are no longer just under pressure, but at breaking point. Governing boards are grappling with rising SEND needs, safeguarding concerns, and growing demands to provide wider support to pupils and families, all while trying to remain fair employers and deliver high-quality education. Without urgent action, the system risks failing the communities it serves.”