23 December 2025

There is nothing like a bracing walk on Dartmoor to focus the mind, and as 2025 draws to a close, English schools stand at a critical juncture. Whilst the dedication of educators remains unwavering, systemic pressures threaten the very foundation of quality education. From recruitment crises to funding shortfalls, the challenges facing our schools demand urgent attention and thoughtful solutions.

The recruitment and retention Crisis

The teacher workforce crisis has reached alarming proportions. OECD data confirms that almost 10% of English teachers left the profession in the most recent analysis, over three times the rates recorded in France and Ireland (National Education Union, 2025). Only three countries in the sample recorded worse retention rates.

Secondary schools face particularly acute challenges, with recruitment activity down 31% compared to last year and 44% of secondary headteachers anticipating teaching role cuts in September 2026 (Gatsby Education, 2025). The situation is exacerbated by subject-specific shortages: 63% of state secondary schools report difficulties hiring Modern Foreign Language teachers, with retention particularly poor in areas of high deprivation (British Council, 2025).

No one would disagree that professionals should work hard, but the human cost is significant. Full-time teachers work over 50 hours weekly, with eight in ten reporting work-related stress and two-thirds stating work leaves no time for personal life. Teacher pay has fallen 20% in real terms since 2010, contributing to 27.1% of those who began teaching in 2016 leaving by 2019 (Etio Global, 2025).

Funding pressures and budget shortfalls

Schools face a £630-£700 million funding gap for 2025-26, equivalent to losing 12,400 staff members (SMS, 2025). Whilst the Department for Education announced a 3.7% rise in per-pupil funding to £8,210, this translates to merely 1.2% in real terms after adjusting for inflation (Uniform Education, 2025a). The Institute for Fiscal Studies projects school costs will grow by 3.6% in the same period, creating a substantial shortfall (Uniform Education, 2025a).

The consequences are evident across schools: 75% of primary schools and 92% of secondary schools expect to make cuts in 2026, with spending on supply teachers rising dramatically—118% in the West Midlands alone (Access Education, 2025). Schools are cutting IT, sports, enrichment activities, and increasingly using Pupil Premium funds to plug core budget gaps, fundamentally undermining their intended purpose.

The SEND crisis and inequality

The number of pupils requiring Special Educational Needs support has surged to 1.6 million—an increase of 101,000 from 2023 alone (Access Education, 2025). Despite this dramatic increase, SEND provision remains chronically underfunded and overstretched. The digitised Education, Health and Care Plan system has reduced some delays, but implementation remains patchy (Uniform Education, 2025b).

Achievement gaps persist, with Modern Foreign Language GCSE uptake more than 20 percentage points higher in the most affluent state schools compared to the least affluent (British Council, 2025). Persistent absence affects 21.2% of pupils, with Ofsted warning of a breakdown in the ‘unwritten agreement’ between schools and parents regarding attendance (SMS, 2025).

New Ofsted framework: hope or added burden?

From 10 November 2025, Ofsted implemented its most significant reforms in years. Single-word judgements have been replaced with detailed report cards using a five-point grading scale across six core areas: inclusion, curriculum and teaching, achievement, attendance and behaviour, personal development and wellbeing, and leadership and governance (TeacherActive, 2025).

Whilst the framework’s emphasis on context and inclusion is welcome, concerns persist that the pressure has been redistributed rather than reduced. Schools must now demonstrate evidence across multiple areas, and the reforms could increase workload if not carefully implemented (Third Space Learning, 2025).

The path forward

The challenges facing English schools are systemic and interconnected. Solutions require coordinated action: fully funded pay increases exceeding 3% to restore competitiveness, substantial increases in school budgets to match rising costs, enhanced SEND provision and funding, genuine workload reduction initiatives, and flexible working arrangements to support retention (NFER, 2025, as cited in Express & Star, 2025).

As we enter 2026, the question remains: will policymakers provide the resources and support necessary to ensure every child receives the education they deserve? The dedication of our teachers and school leaders is not in question—what remains uncertain is whether the system supporting them will prove adequate to the task.

References

Access Education. (2025, 1 April). Hidden cost of teacher retention crisis. https://www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/blog/edu-teacher-retention-crisis/

British Council. (2025). Language trends England 2025. https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/language-trends-england-2025

Etio Global. (2025, 8 April). Addressing the teacher retention challenge in England: The case for investing in continuous professional development. Etio Blog. https://blog.etioglobal.org/blog/addressing-the-teacher-retention-crisis-in-england-the-case-for-investing-in-continuous-professional-development

Express & Star. (2025, 13 March). High teacher leaving rates and ‘sluggish’ recruitment affecting pupils – report. Express & Star. https://www.expressandstar.com/uk-news/2025/03/13/high-teacher-leaving-rates-and-sluggish-recruitment-affecting-pupils-report/

Gatsby Education. (2025, 15 August). Teacher recruitment in England drops sharply: 2025 report on teacher supply. Gatsby Charitable Foundation. https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/updates/teacher-recruitment-in-england-drops-sharply-2025-report-on-teacher-supply/

National Education Union. (2025). Education at a glance 2025: OECD data confirms teacher retention crisis [Press release]. https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/education-glance-2025-oecd-data-confirms-teacher-retention-crisis

SMS. (2025, 12 November). Teaching and education in 2025: From crisis to continuity. Schools Mutual Services. https://schoolsmutualservices.co.uk/teaching-and-education-in-2025-from-crisis-to-continuity-tackling-teacher-shortages-and-funding-cuts/

TeacherActive. (2025). Ofsted changes 2025 explained: New inspection model and report cards. https://www.teacheractive.com/media-post/ofsted-changes-2025-explained

Third Space Learning. (2025, 12 November). Key insights into the new Ofsted framework 2025: What school leaders need to know. Third Space Learning. https://thirdspacelearning.com/blog/new-ofsted-framework-2025/

Uniform Education. (2025a, April). Education in the UK: A review from January to April 2025. https://www.uniformeducation.co.uk/blog/2025/04/education-in-the-uk-a-review-from-january-to-april-2025

Uniform Education. (2025b, March). The state of UK education in 2025: A comprehensive overview. https://www.uniformeducation.co.uk/blog/2025/03/the-state-of-uk-education-in-2025-a-comprehensive-overview-1