Education unions warn Budget leaves schools ‘running on empty’

Education unions have said the Budget fails to address the severe financial strain on schools, despite the government’s decision to lift the two-child benefit limit. 

Leaders from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Education Union (NEU) warned that rising costs, staffing pressures and a backlog of estate repairs continue to hit schools. 

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said the move to end the two-child benefit cap marked a significant step for families and could help tackle the root causes of child poverty, which affect attendance and learning. 

He also welcomed plans to expand free school meals and breakfast clubs as part of wider efforts to support pupils.

Despite this, both unions stressed that core school funding remains under intense pressure, with leaders facing choices over staff and resources. 

Among the areas highlighted were deteriorating buildings, support for pupils with special educational needs and the recruitment and retention of teachers.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of theNEU, said members had hoped the Budget would mark a turning point after years of real-terms reductions but had instead left the sector “running on empty”. 

He argued that schools and colleges remain underfunded and that the government’s pay recommendations risk worsening an already acute staffing crisis.

Whiteman said: “This should help build on other really positive initiatives like the expansion of free school meals and roll-out of breakfast clubs to reduce the number of children in poverty.

“Funding to improve and upgrade playgrounds and for secondary school libraries, is of course welcome. But this wasn’t a budget focused on public spending and school finances remain in a perilous state, with some school leaders facing really unpalatable choices around cuts to staff and resources.”

He added that ministers should use new revenue raised through the Budget to ensure “all schools have the resources they need”, including investment in the school estate and better provision for children with special educational needs.

Kebede said: “Education is running on empty. Members tell me daily the effect that years of real-term funding cuts is having on their working lives – and the education of the children they teach. Today’s Budget has done nothing to improve this.

“Roofs continue to leak, children continue to learn in their coats because heating is too expensive, and teachers continue to dip into their pockets to buy basic learning resources for their students.”

He said the government’s recommendation on teacher pay “will only worsen the crisis” and described the Chancellor’s claim that there would be no return to austerity as incompatible with below-inflation rises. He also welcomed the decision to abolish the two-child limit, calling it a “significant step” for families, but said further measures, including universal free school meals, were needed to reduce child poverty.