Liverpool Headteachers Warn Schools At Breaking Point Amid £52m Cuts

A group of 29 Liverpool headteachers has warned that local schools are at breaking point due to chronic underfunding, calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to restore the achievements of the last Labour government. The letter claims Liverpool schools have lost £52.3 million in real terms since 2010, with 86% of schools financially worse off, although the Department for Education disputes these figures derived from the Stop School Cuts Coalition. Headteachers report deficits, increasing staff stress, and a lack of funding to support high numbers of students with special educational needs and complex care plans. Research by the Stop School Cuts Coalition, representing teaching unions, indicates that seven in 10 schools in England have experienced real-terms budget cuts since 2010. The funding shortfalls are said to be affecting the quality of education, student attainment, staff morale, and leading to cuts in subjects, teachers, and resources. The issue is highlighted ahead of the Labour party conference in Liverpool, with public campaigns urging the government to reverse school funding cuts.