education

February 2, 2026

London schools face cuts to staff and budgets as pupil numbers fall

Demand for year 7 pupils is expected to fall by 7.6% over the next four years, with similar numbers expected in primary schools

London schools face cuts to staff and budgets as pupil numbers fall

TL;DR

  • London schools anticipate a £45 million funding loss over four years due to falling pupil numbers.
  • Secondary schools are increasingly affected, facing potential staff and curriculum cuts.
  • Inner London is expected to see the sharpest decline in demand for school places.
  • Schools funded per pupil will receive less with fewer students.
  • Concerns exist for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) if support staff are reduced.
  • Schools may cut GCSE options, enrichment activities, and school trips to save money.
  • Rising demand for mental health and wellbeing support, school avoidance, and Send needs conflicts with diminishing budgets.
  • Attainment gaps related to ethnicity, Send, and socio-economic disadvantage persist.
  • Unions urge the government to protect school funding to maintain staffing levels and support smaller classes.

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