Nearly half of academy trust leaders expect to reduce teacher staffing amid continuing financial pressures, according to a survey by the Confederation of School Trusts.
The polling with survey platform Edurio found that 49% of chief executives planned to reduce teacher full-time equivalent (FTE) staffing to offset financial pressures in 2026-27, while 52% planned to cut teaching assistant FTE staffing.
More than three-quarters were considering additional special educational needs and disabilities training for staff ahead of Labour's flagship reforms, although 37% of chief executives said they had struggled to fill SEND specialist vacancies in the past academic year.