Across the UK, many school leaders and classroom staff are feeling the pinch: funding is tight, demand is up, and the reality of running a thriving school on limited resources is more challenging than ever.
From the rising cost-of-living and increased price of basic supplies to stretched support staff and energy bills eating into the essentials, “doing more with less” has gone from a phrase to a full-time job.
But here’s the good news: some schools are not just surviving – they’re thriving. With the right mindset, partnerships, and practical strategies, schools can still deliver outstanding education and wraparound support for their pupils… without breaking the bank.
In this blog, we explore how schools are navigating budget pressures while keeping their vision big – and share actionable ideas to help you do the same.
The Current Reality: Budget Challenges Facing UK Schools
Before we can understand how to tackle the budget challenges facing schools, we need a clear picture of exactly what those challenges look like:
- A survey by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) revealed that half of all school leaders are considering reducing the number of teachers or teaching hours due to budget constraints.
- Schools are reducing support staff, CPD, and SEND provision. The same NAHT report found that 66% of school leaders planned to reduce spending on teaching assistants and 58% on support for SEND pupils due to financial pressures.
- Teachers are covering the shortfall personally, and a 2025 BBC News survey highlights just how common this is. Almost 45% of senior teachers said that their school had supported families financially in the last 12 months, with many teachers providing school supplies and clothes for pupils.
Tips for Schools to Stretch Their Budget
So how can schools overcome the reality of the cost-of-living crisis? We’ve compiled our top tips to help school leaders make the most of their school budget.
1. Prioritise Core Values
Sometimes, you have to go back to basics. Looking at the bigger picture can help to frame how your school manages budget cuts. And the bigger picture is that pupils are there to learn.
By focusing on core values and whole-school teaching approaches, you can create stability and drive positive long-term outcomes for pupils and staff. This could include:
- Calm, consistent classrooms built on clear routines.
- Clear, well-communicated behaviour expectations.
- Strong, trusted relationships between staff and pupils, using a trauma-informed approach.
Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) highlights that whole-school behaviour approaches based on consistency, relational practice, and high expectations are more effective than standalone behaviour programmes or external interventions.
This approach doesn’t just improve learning – it also reduces low-level disruption, improves attendance, and boosts teacher and pupil wellbeing. All without needing additional budget.
2. Tap Into Low-Cost, High-Impact CPD
Staff development is often the first area to suffer when budgets are tight. But pausing CPD altogether can create bigger problems: lower morale, higher staff turnover, and inconsistent practice across the school.
The good news? Quality CPD doesn’t have to come with a huge price tag.
Milk Academy offers free online CPD to all partner schools, including training in:
Our accredited courses are self-paced, practical, and designed around current classroom challenges – with no need for expensive cover or time out of school.
According to the Department for Education, teachers’ professional development is important for pupil outcomes, and many educators want to be able to dedicate more time to CPD.
When schools invest in their staff – even on a tight budget – the payoff is clear: greater confidence, better practice, and improved pupil outcomes.
3. Use Pupil Premium Strategically
Pupil Premium funding aims to improve outcomes for socio-economically disadvantaged pupils, and it is one of the few flexible budgets that schools can still generally shape to their context. However, with over 2 million pupils in England eligible for this funding, it needs to be used strategically to have the desired outcome.
Forget the myths. It’s not about ringfencing funds for a handful of pupils – it’s about removing barriers for those most at risk of falling behind. The most effective schools take a whole-school approach that includes:
- Prioritising high-quality teaching, with targeted CPD that equips staff to close learning gaps.
- Investing in sustainable, in-house interventions, rather than one-off programmes or outsourced support.
- Using data intelligently to identify need and tailor support – from tutoring to scaffolding, mentoring to emotional literacy.
- Boosting engagement through relational approaches and creative incentives, particularly for pupils with SEMH needs or persistent absence (e.g. mentoring, praise systems, attendance rewards).
- Listening to pupil voice to shape interventions that actually make a difference.
- Reviewing and reporting transparently, using tools like the EEF’s Strategy Template to track impact and adapt.
4. Make ‘Resourcefulness’ a Whole-School Mindset
Many schools are rethinking how they define a “resource” – shifting from spending to sharing, repurposing, and innovating.
Ideas could include:
- Resource sharing: It sounds simple, but cross-sharing resources and equipment amongst departments, such as Art, DT and Science, can alleviate spending.
- Student-led enterprise projects: Incorporate fundraising discussions into PSHE lessons or form time, encouraging pupils to raise money through crafts, performances or cake sales.
- Parent communication: Encourage parents to share pre-loved books, equipment, or budget ideas with each other either via an online group or in-person.
- Local business donations: Some organisations and community partners offer grants and funding for school projects or equipment, such as Tesco Stronger Starts.
- Collaborative planning: Encourage subject leaders to curate digital resources to reduce workload.
This mindset builds staff agency and collective responsibility – and reinforces the idea that a strong school culture isn’t built on spending, but on creativity and connection.
5. Boost Staff Morale Without Spending a Penny
Burnout and morale dips aren’t just the result of workload – they’re often tied to whether staff feel recognised, respected and supported.
While budgets might offer space for wellbeing packages, schools succeeding under pressure are doing the simple things well:
- Workload is minimised through collaborative planning, resource sharing, and reduced admin where possible.
- There are options to work flexibly or complete PPA at home, for example.
- Staff have protected breaks where they can truly switch off.
- Communication is clear and staff feel genuinely supported by leadership.
According to Education Support’s 2024 Teacher Wellbeing Index, nearly half of all educators said that feeling supported had the biggest positive effect on their mental health, compared to things like pupil behaviour or work-life balance.
Kindness doesn’t cost. And in budget-stretched schools, it goes further than ever.
Support Pupils and Staff with Creative School Budget Ideas
A tight budget shouldn’t mean a limited education.
With strategic planning, creative thinking, and the right support in place, schools across the UK are showing that vision, values and community matter more than money.
Milk Education is proud to stand alongside schools navigating this challenge – offering CPD, staffing and practical support that helps you keep the focus on what truly matters.
Got more advice for schools to manage their budget? Join the conversation on LinkedIn.