It is not the fault of schools that the number of babies born in England fell 18.6 per cent between 2012 and 2025, or that women are now having an average of 1.4 children, down from 1.94 just over a decade ago. The blame for this demographic crash lies with the people responsible for, in chronological order, the 2008 global financial crisis and recession, post-2010 austerity in the UK, Brexit and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Covid also played its part. The birth rate in developed countries falls when times are bad economically and rises when times are good. Become a member for unlimited access to Schools Week subscribe Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.