North East and SEND voice on national policy
Over the past few months, Schools North East has welcomed a host of policymakers to the region, including Helen Hayes (Chair of the Education Select Committee), Sir Kevan Collins (Delivery Adviser to the Secretary of State for Education), and Susan Acland-Hood (Permanent Secretary at the DfE.
Most recently, in a powerful demonstration of regional and national collaboration, Schools North East and the National Network of Special Schools for School Business Professionals (NNoSS) brought together business professionals from schools and trusts for a high-level roundtable with the Department for Education (DfE). Charlie Lang, Programme Director, heard from a range of SBPs from maintained schools and trusts, who provided input into the next stage of their newly launched Maximising Value for Pupils programme.
What is the programme?
The Maximising Value for Pupils programme sets out to “tackle the systemic issues and support all schools and trusts to allocate resources smartly” across 4 key pillars:
- commercial spend
- assets, including reserves
- workforce deployment
- developing capabilities, including digital and technology
The programme builds on the work already being undertaken by schools and trusts, and expands on support provided from the department previously through the School Resource Management Programme.
Why is it important?
The programme has been brought back into the spotlight following the release of the Schools’ costs: 2025 to 2029 at the start of the month. You can learn more about this in our dedicated Bitesize Briefing.
The publication outlines the drivers of cost increases, and impact of those cost increases, in mainstream schools in England.
The key issue centres around pay affordability – over the next two years, the financial headroom available means pay affordability of 2.7% whilst the evidence from the DfE to the STRB recommended a 6.5% pay award over the next 3 years. The DfE has explained that “it is clear from our analysis that schools will need to realise and sustain better value from existing spending…to support the creation of additional headroom to improve the manageability of a 6.5 per cent pay increase over the three years.”
Key talking points from the roundtable
Whether it be lack of local providers on national frameworks or the falling pupil rolls that are hitting the North East harder than most, the message throughout the discussion was clear and reflects a major point in the Schools North East Manifesto for North East Education: policy must be context-driven.
Between 2024/25 and 2029/30, pupil numbers in primary schools are forecast to drop by 6.4%, and by 2030/31 secondary pupil numbers will drop by 0.4%. These are among the steepest declines in the country.
1. Commercial
A major point of discussion was the “systemic issue” of supply staff costs. SBPs welcomed news that the DfE and CCS are currently in the process of negotiating a new framework designed to further limit recruitment agency profit margins, ensuring more funding reaches the classroom.
When it came to DfE approved frameworks, there was a clear recommendation that going forward these needed to enable local suppliers including local authorities to more easily be part of these so they can serve our region where national frameworks are typically short on supply for the North East.
2. Assets & reserves
With £6 billion held in school reserves nationally, the conversation turned to how these funds can be used ‘strategically’. The North East has been highlighted as a leading region for proactive investment, and early adopters of approaches now backed by the DfE. There were calls for clearer guidance when it came to the risk of investment to better enable schools, trusts, and boards to maximise potential in this space.
3. Workforce: The inclusion agenda
The roundtable rejected the idea that rising numbers of Teaching Assistants (TAs) represent inefficiency. Instead, leaders argued that this workforce growth is a direct response to the increasingly complex needs of pupils, and will be essential to delivering the ambitious plans of the schools white paper and SEND reform.
For NNoSS, the message was vital: in specialist settings, high staffing ratios are a functional necessity. This is another area where schools are filling the void which has been left by health, with the core schools budget being diverted to ensure pupil needs in spite of this.
Looking ahead: The Education Business Conference
To ensure that North East schools understand and can plan for the implications of the Maximising Value for Pupils programme, Schools North East is pleased to announce that we are collaborating with the DfE at our upcoming Education Business Conference, which is taking place on 11 June at Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle.
Each strand of the event reflects a key pillar of the Maximising Value for Pupils programme, translated into practical, real-world learning. With capability woven throughout, building the confidence, skills and judgement needed to turn strategy into impact.
- Commercial: Making every pound count
- Assets: Building environments that enable success
- Workforce: Strategic planning to maximise outcomes.
As we continue to act as the bridge between North East schools and national policymakers, this event will be an essential opportunity to take these discussions further, featuring dedicated sessions on procurement, estate strategy, and workforce deployment. It’s a must-attend for School Business Professionals, Heads, and Senior Leaders who want to stay ahead of policy changes and ensure their school’s voice continues to be heard at the highest levels.
