Head teachers in the UK are confronted with challenging decisions as rising costs surpass funding. A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies predicts that school costs will increase by 3.6% while funding only rises by 2.8% in 2025-26, impacting teacher pay and support for students with special educational needs. Schools like Marlborough St Mary’s and St Peter’s Primary are struggling to maintain educational provisions without additional funding, leading to potential staff redundancies and reduced resources. Education unions warn that schools lack the capacity to absorb these financial pressures.