Fund our future: Schools
Years of underfunding have left schools struggling – it’s time to invest properly to restore the strength of our education system
Schools are at breaking point
Following years of underfunding, schools are in desperate need of investment. While the costs of running a school – including the basics of heating and lighting classrooms – have increased, school funding has not kept pace.
Although the schools budget rose by around £2.3 billion for 2025-26, this is not enough to meet the rise in school costs, as more and more schools report the need to reduce staff to make ends meet.
Why do we need urgent funding for schools?
Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has also been a casualty of insufficient funding. According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, the number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) rose by 71% between 2018 and 2024. While central funding for pupils with SEND has increased, it has not kept pace with demand. This means the funding for each EHCP has fallen by around a third in real terms. Many local authorities have accumulated large deficits in their high-needs budgets, estimated to be at least £3.3bn.
Our members in schools have seen their pay and conditions decline continuously for the past 14 years, while their workload and responsibilities have increased. Since 2010, support staff pay has reduced by 25% in real terms. An alarming 79% of our members tell us they are now concerned about coping with the cost of living and affording necessities such as food, energy and housing.
While the spending review announced in June 2025 rightly recognises the critical importance of investing in schools, and does deliver an increase in per pupil funding, UNISON remains concerned that levels of funding are simply not high enough to reverse the crisis caused by years of austerity under the previous government.
The National Audit Office report has revealed a £13.8bn backlog in school maintenance. A significant number of school buildings are now many years beyond their designed life expectancy, leading to serious safety concerns. Urgent funding is therefore required to restore and rebuild the school estate, and ensure schools are safe for pupils and staff.
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