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More than three-quarters of staff surveyed say there were not enough workers to meet pupils’ needs
Alan JonesFriday 28 November 2025 00:01 GMTComments
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A new report suggests school staffing shortages are harming children’s education and safety.
The survey by Unison of almost 3,000 support staff – including teaching assistants, caterers and cleaners – found that three in five reported having fewer colleagues than a year ago, with just six per cent saying numbers have increased.
More than three-quarters surveyed said there were not enough workers to meet pupils’ needs, with a similar number warning that reduced staffing made it harder to keep pupils safe.
The main reason given for the shortage was the failure of schools to replace people when they leave.
Unison said the knock-on effect was an increase in workloads and unpaid overtime for those who remain.
More than three-quarters of those surveyed said there were not enough workers to meet pupils’ needs (PA)Unison’s head of education Mike Short said the survey “paints a bleak picture of an underappreciated workforce going above and beyond”.
“Staff believe pupils’ education is suffering due to shortages. The situation is bad news for everybody and simply unsustainable. Overstretched employees are taking on extra responsibilities and doing teacher-level work for support-staff wages.
“Schools need extra cash so they can replace people when they leave and afford fair pay rises for all their employees.
“The forthcoming school support staff negotiating body should mean better recognition of the vital contribution made by the likes of teaching assistants, caterers and technicians.
“Crucially, it must improve their pay and conditions, backed by the increased government funding that schools clearly need.”
James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Support staff play a vital role in our schools – without them, schools simply wouldn’t be able to function.
“They really are the unsung heroes of the school workforce. Ever-increasing budget pressures mean that many schools are finding it harder and harder to afford the level of support staff they need, and where this is the case, children undoubtedly suffer – often the most vulnerable.
“We frequently hear of leaders who are having to reduce the number of teaching assistants they have in order to balance the books. If the government wants a more inclusive school system then it must ensure schools have the necessary funding to deliver it.”
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