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At the end of last academic year, uncertainty loomed around the 2024 election. A year on, education leaders have navigated a packed agenda, from addressing attendance issues to integrating AI, while managing ongoing funding pressures. As we wrap up the year, it’s clear there’s more change ahead - and more opportunities to shape what’s next.
A year of challenge and change
This term alone has brought new priorities. The Secretary of State’s briefing on 3 June acknowledged the sector’s urgent need for more support - highlighting plans to improve attendance through early years investment, boost wellbeing for staff and pupils, and encourage schools to drive efficiencies within their budgets. Read on for the key areas shaping the landscape.
Addressing the SEND crisis
SEND remains front-page news as schools face rising needs with limited specialist staff. Many leaders are balancing pupil needs with tight budgets while waiting for structural change.
In response, a SEND White Paper is due in autumn, with plans to restructure provision by shifting more support into mainstream schools via Additional Resourcing Provisions (ARPs). In the meantime, local authorities will continue with the current funding arrangements until 2028 to prevent financial collapse.
Earlier this term, our Thought Leaders shared how they’re navigating SEND challenges with limited resources > Catch up here if you missed it.
Looking ahead, the DfE Inclusion in Practice group has flagged five principles for building inclusion for SEND pupils:
- Knowing children well, early and often
- Evidence-informed teaching
- Expert targeted support
- Strengthening inclusion through relationships
- Inclusion as a shared strategic responsibility.
These principles, alongside £2.6 billion additional pledged funding, will guide schools in building a more inclusive culture over the coming years.
The rise of AI in education
There’s no escaping AI and, for many, the 2024/25 academic year marks a turning point in how pupils learn and how staff work. From automated grading to digital safeguarding solutions, leaders are seeing benefits - but challenges remain around costs, training, data privacy, and ensuring equity. With £275 million announced for technical colleges and digital skills, it’s clear the government sees technology as a tool to bridge learning gaps and drive outcomes.
We’re supporting leaders to adopt AI with confidence and integrity. If you want practical insights, join our Thought Leaders discussion on 2 October where we’ll explore safe and effective integration of AI in an education workplace > Register your FREE place here.
Funding and budgeting for 2025/26
The 2025 teachers’ pay award has made it clear: additional funding is coming, but leaders will need to find efficiencies to fund 1% of the rise themselves. Key funding outlined for next year's Education Budget as confirmed in the Spending Review:
- £4–4.7 billion increase in core school budgets by 2028/29 (~ 1–1.1% real-terms annual increase per pupil)
- £2.3 billion for school building, maintenance, and repairs
- £2.6 billion for SEND capacity
- £615 million grant support to implement the 2025 pay award.
Despite these uplifts, many schools remain concerned about covering the remainder of pay rises without impacting class sizes or staffing levels. Currently, the support staff pay award has been formally rejected by unions, so potential strike action could also be on the cards.
If you’re reviewing your budget strategy, our Finance Team can help identify where to reallocate resources with minimal disruption > Explore our SRMA-led finance services.
Preparing for KCSIE 2025
A quick reminder that Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 comes into effect on 1 September.
Now’s the time to circulate Part 1 (or Annex A) to all staff and include a short refresher in your September INSET plans. Update your safeguarding policy to reference the new DfE filtering and monitoring standards, and include misinformation and disinformation within your online safety risk assessments. It’s also a good opportunity to flag forthcoming RSHE and gender guidance to staff.
Don’t forget to refresh safer recruitment templates to reflect the latest prohibition and Section 128 checks, build kinship care considerations into your virtual head responsibilities, and secure governor approval for your updated safeguarding policy before the new term begins. Explore our expert Safer Recruitment and DBS services for support!
Strengthening support staff recognition
As part of its Employment Rights Bill, the government plans to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), recognising the essential role of support staff in education.
Key points:
- The SSSNB will go live after Royal Ascent, expected by autumn 2025.
- A “no-detriment” promise will protect schools’ current enhancements while aiming for national consistency and local flexibility.
- The earliest a new pay framework is expected: 2027/28.
Employment Rights Bill: What you need to know
The government’s roadmap for the Employment Rights Bill helps schools to plan ahead. Here are our top tips:
- Add key dates to HR and governance calendars, ensuring timely policy approval
- Re-forecast absence and parental-leave costs (particularly with support-staff roles)
- Review and, where necessary, replace zero-hours or casual arrangements with fair-hours contracts
- Update safeguarding and anti-harassment procedures to cover third-party conduct on school premises
- Prepare leadership for increased union activity
- Review settlement-agreement templates and remove blanket NDAs covering harassment/discrimination
- Consider incorporating pregnancy-loss leave into your leave of absence policy or having a standalone policy ready for new legislation.
Need support preparing for the changes and aligning your policies? Our HR Team can build a tailored plan to ease your transition. Learn more.
A new initiative for leaders
At the start of this academic year, we reflected on the power of networking within the sector, and this year has certainly seen us uphold that promise. With the launch of our Thought Leaders Series, we’ve created a place for education leaders to lead the way in creating brighter solutions to the sector’s challenges.
But there’s always more we can do to support.
We’re ending 2024/25 on a high with an exciting new initiative that sees the creation of our new national education leadership network. We’ve got several ways for education leaders to get involved, in whatever capacity suits you best:
- Lead the vision through Advisory Board and partnership opportunities
- Access practical resources, events, and peer learning spaces as a free member
- Save the date for the Education Leaders Conference on 9 October to connect in person.
Take a look at our recent announcement for details and how to get involved > EPM to launch new Education Leadership Network shaped by sector voices.
Final reflections
As we close out this academic year, we recognise the sector’s resilience in navigating a fast-changing landscape. We know more change is coming, but also see clear opportunities for leaders to shape the future of education for the better.
Our team will continue to keep you informed and supported, keeping a finger on the pulse of the latest legislative changes, so you can focus on delivering the best outcomes for your pupils and staff.
We’ll be working throughout the summer, so if you’re in over the break and need support to prepare for September, we’re here to help. Whether it’s planning recruitment, reviewing policies, or navigating new funding allocations, we’re on hand to lighten the load.
Before you switch off for the break, make sure you explore our new training and event opportunities for the autumn term. Reserving your dates now will ensure professional development stays a priority, putting your team in the strongest position to start the new academic year with clarity and confidence.
