Half of primary schools are using funding intended for disadvantaged pupils to plug gaps in their budgets, a survey has revealed.
The poll by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) found primary schools were hardest hit by funding pressures, which saw more than 50% of senior leaders in primary schools forced to rely on pupil premium cash. This is up from 42% last year.
Three quarters (74%) of primary school headteachers also reported having to cut back on teaching assistants this year. The survey of 1,282 school teachers and senior leaders in England found nearly two thirds (69%) had been forced to cut teaching assistants, half (46%) have had to cut back on support staff while a third (32%) said teaching staff had been cut.
Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, said: "The erosion of school funding coupled with rising costs is having a major impact on the ability of schools to provide the support that low-income students need.
"It's disgraceful that increasing numbers of school leaders are having to cut essential staff and essential co-curricular activities. The situation for primary schools in particular is one of rapid deterioration, with half of them having to use funding to plug gaps that should be used for poorer pupils."
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He added: "The Government's rhetoric on education being a priority is a sham. School funding is inadequate and has to be urgently reviewed."
The proportion of schools cutting spending on trips and outings (50%) and sports and other extracurricular activities (27%) is at the highest level since the polling began in 2017. Over half (51%) of school leaders report cuts to IT equipment.
Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "That so many schools are being forced to cut numbers of teachers, teaching assistants and other essential staff is a mark of shame for this Government and its hollow pledges to care about the standard of education in this country and the futures of its young people. Schools are already cutting back on extracurricular activities, school trips and cultural and social activities. In many cases IT facilities are being cut and school buildings are crumbling."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are increasing school funding to £60.7 billion this year, the highest level ever in real terms per pupil, to support school leaders meet their costs.
"Every school will attract a per pupil increase in funding, and the National Funding Formula (NFF) makes sure that funding is distributed fairly based on the needs of each school and their pupils. School leaders have flexibility in how they choose to use their pupil premium to best support disadvantaged pupils and close attainment gaps. Pupil premium funding is rising to over £2.9 billion in 2024-25, meaning that rates will have increased by 10% since 2021-22 to 2024-25."
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