Schools in England face ‘death by a thousand cuts’, headteachers say

The warning followed the publication of a report by the IFS that estimates 2.8% growth (in cash terms) in mainstream school funding in 2025-26 will fall short of an expected 3.6% rise in costs. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Schools in England are facing “death by a thousand cuts”, headteachers have said, after a leading economics thinktank said rising costs are likely to outstrip funding in the coming year, despite recent injections of additional money.

Without more ambitious government investment in education, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said there could be yet more cuts in England’s already depleted schools, reducing pastoral support and curriculum choice, while class sizes are likely to grow.