Almost half of headteachers expect to cut roles next year, NAHT finds

Some 46% of headteachers anticipate having to reduce the number of teachers or teaching hours, and 80% expect to have to reduce the number of teaching assistants or teaching assistant hours over the next year, according to a survey from school leaders’ union NAHT.

It also found that 98% of school leaders say their school does not have sufficient funding to fully meet the needs of its pupils.

The new data comes a week ahead of the government’s Spending Review on Wednesday 11 June, which the NAHT said puts further pressure on the Treasury to announce fresh investment into education.

NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “The Treasury must not underestimate the urgency of the case for fresh investment into education funding while making its decisions for the Spending Review.
School budgets have been hard hit over the last decade thanks to austerity, Covid, rapidly rising costs, and ever-increasing levels of need. Recently there have been yet more blows, with pay and national insurance increases not being fully funded.

“School leaders are literally walking on fire for their pupils and staff. They are doing everything they can to make things work, but there are just no palatable moves left to make when it comes to finding the money needed to deliver education and support for children. We are hearing strongly from our members that redundancies and staff reductions are the only way to balance the books.”

He added: “Ultimately, this cannot help but negatively impact the education and support they are able to provide for pupils. We desperately need to see new money and sustained investment from the Treasury at the Spending Review. While public finances may be tight, it remains essential that children’s education, wellbeing and futures are prioritised, and it’s vital this is reflected in the financial decisions the government makes.”