Commenting on a new survey of school leaders by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) published today (Thurs 27 Oct), Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“The findings from this survey are alarming and very much mirror what we are hearing from our own members. As we revealed at the weekend, more than 90% of schools we’ve spoken to are predicting they will be in deficit next year unless they make significant cuts that they know will detrimentally impact children’s education and wellbeing.

“Education spending is due to be around £2billion less in real terms by September 2024 than it was in 2010. This continued under-funding, alongside spiralling energy bills, inflationary costs, and an unfunded teachers’ pay award means school leaders are being forced to make impossible choices on what to cut.

“The new Education Secretary must urgently get to grips with the reality of the situation facing schools, listen to the profession, and make a compelling case to the Treasury for the funding so urgently needed, ahead of the next fiscal announcement.

“The school funding crisis is impacting children and their life-chances directly, right now. The government has to understand the damage they are doing.”