Around a third of school leaders have reported their school is considering a restructure or making redundancies amid funding shortages, a union survey has found. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) called on the chancellor to make “immediate additional investment” in schools, ahead of the forthcoming budget. A survey of 5,000 members – around 10 per cent of its membership – found 35 per cent had discussed or consulted upon redundancies, a restructure, or both. The NAHT predominantly represents primary leaders. Fourteen per cent of respondents said a formal consultation about redundancies or restructure was already underway at their school or academy trust, while 7 per cent said informal consultations were underway and 15 per cent said the possibility had been discussed. Almost eight in 10 (78 per cent) cited insufficient funding as the cause, while a further 56 per cent reported current falling rolls. Another 23 per cent said it was because of projected falling rolls. Meanwhile 92 per cent of NAHT respondents said school funding had worsened, or greatly worsened, in the last 12 months. This is up from 66 per cent when the same question was asked last year. Redundancies broadly increase A recent freedom of information request made to the DfE by Schools Week revealed teacher redundancies at primary schools have hit a five-year high. In 2024-25, 490 teachers were made redundant – an increase of only seven on the previous year, but up 38 per cent (354) on the year before that. Secondaries saw 409 teacher redundancies in 2024-25 – 17 fewer than the previous year, but significantly higher than any of the previous three years when redundancies did not top 338. Primary school teaching assistant redundancies have also increased since 2022-23, rising from 613 to 786 in 2024-25, though they have not yet hit the peak of 974 seen during the pandemic (2020-21). Secondary school teaching assistant redundancies have fluctuated in recent years and numbers remain relatively low, but hit a five-year high of 113 in 2024-25. These figures combine compulsory and voluntary redundancy, but do not capture staff who left for other reasons and were not replaced. Research by SchoolDash earlier this year found secondary teacher job adverts had hit a historic low, driven by falling school rolls and a weaker job market suppressing teacher turnover. ‘Funding worse’ As the budget looms, the NAHT is urging the chancellor to provide “immediate additional investment” in schools, and to ensure commitments in the schools white paper are fully funded. The union wants the government to commit to a real-terms increase in core schools funding over this parliament, “ensuring it is not cut despite falling rolls in some areas”. General secretary Paul Whiteman said: “Schools are nothing without their dedicated workforce, but funding shortfalls are forcing many leaders to lose valued colleagues.” He said recent funding uplifts have been “swallowed up by increasing costs and demands”, while schools will need “significantly more” resources to carry out planned SEND, and curriculum and assessment reforms. “We need to see a sustained commitment from this new government in ensuring schools have the funding they require – starting with the forthcoming Budget.” ‘Money isn’t there’ The NAHT also shared the experience of leaders who have been forced to consider restructures. David Huntingford, headteacher at William Ford CE Junior School in Dagenham, said he had been forced to lead four restructures in the last six years, “because the money simply isn’t there”. “Money is the issue that keeps me awake at night,” he said. Rachel Targett-Adams, headteacher at Redbridge Primary School in Ilford, said her school was facing falling rolls and an increase in pupils with SEND. “We are managing staffing reductions through natural turnover wherever possible, but we cannot always afford to replace colleagues who leave. Staff are telling me that their workloads are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.” Leadership restructuring discussions are underway. A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We recognise the challenges facing school leaders as pupil numbers change. That’s why we’re supporting areas to plan ahead and make the best use of their school estate. “We’re backing this with record investment, including a £2.3 billion increase to the core schools budget in 2026–27, alongside £400 million to create tens of thousands of nursery places and £3.7 billion for new SEND provision. “Every school’s circumstances is different, but we are continuing to work with them to seize every opportunity to help them maximise value from their budgets, so they can make savings on energy, recruitment and banking, reinvesting every penny in delivering opportunities for young people.”