Falling rolls an opportunity to invest in schools says NAHT

Responding to new research from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on falling pupil rolls, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders' union, the NAHT said:

“Falling pupil numbers and their impact on school finances are understandably a concern when funding is worked out on a per pupil basis, and budgets are already stretched.

“We would encourage the new government to see this as an opportunity not to reduce funding, but to invest in schools and their staff . This could include offering smaller classes and more targeted help for pupils who need it, maintaining existing staffing levels, and cutting intolerable levels of workload for teachers and school leaders at a time when the profession is facing a huge recruitment and retention crisis."