Summer State of the Region Survey: Inside the realities of North East schools
Each term, we ask school leaders across the North East to share their views through our State of the Region survey. As the summer term draws to a close, the latest findings provide a clear – and at times stark – picture of the pressures facing schools, as well as the efforts leaders are making to keep pupils thriving.
Staffing: fewer struggles, new challenges
While fewer schools report major issues with recruitment and retention this term, it’s far from plain sailing. The quality and quantity of applicants remain a concern—particularly for teaching assistants and admin roles, where vacancies often attract few candidates with the necessary skills to meet the growing demands around SEND.
The high cost of agency supply cover continues to be a major worry, described by many as “astronomical” and unsustainable. And in a concerning trend, falling pupil numbers—especially in primary—are triggering staff redundancies.
On a more positive note, staff wellbeing remains relatively high. Although slightly down on the autumn term, leaders say wellbeing this year is better than in previous years. That’s no small achievement, given the pressures schools are facing.
The chart below shows how school leaders rated staff wellbeing on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being very good and 1 being very poor.
Student wellbeing: School as a safe haven
Most respondents describe student wellbeing as positive, with pupils described as happy, engaged, and enjoying school life. Schools have worked hard to prioritise wellbeing, with some embedding it at the heart of their ethos and support structures. Pupils often feel safe and supported, and for many students wellbeing tends to be better within the school environment than at home.
Attendance: Still a stubborn barrier
Despite the safe and nurturing environments schools provide, attendance remains a critical challenge. Persistent absence continues to disproportionately affect disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. While primary schools fare slightly better, secondary and special schools are still grappling with term-time holidays, post-Covid parental attitudes, and complex barriers to attendance.
Leaders say funding cuts are undermining their ability to act. With fewer family support workers and limited capacity for early intervention, too many schools are being left to tackle the problem without the tools they need.
SEND: A system under strain
The picture on SEND is one of rising demand and inadequate support. Almost every school reported a growth in the number of pupils with SEND, and three in four said they don’t have the resources to meet that need.
Waiting times for external support—especially through CAMHS—are described as “unacceptably long.” Schools are having to step into gaps left by stretched health and social care services, often without specialist training or funding. This is contributing to a worrying rise in complex behavioural issues, with leaders reporting increased incidents of disruptive or violent behaviour.
Finances: At breaking point
Running beneath all these issues is a deepening financial crisis. Rising costs, unfunded staff pay rises, and higher national insurance contributions have pushed many schools into deficit. Leaders told us they’re having to cut enrichment activities, restructure provision, and even draw on reserves just to keep the lights on.
Despite this, schools continue to do everything they can to support their students and maintain high standards. But the message from leaders is clear: without urgent investment, SEND reform, and meaningful health and social care collaboration, the current situation is simply not sustainable.
Join us at Summit 2025
The theme for our annual Summit 2025 is ‘rebooting education’. With the range of challenges facing schools, highlighted in our State of the Region survey, it is vital that the voice of North East schools is heard in national policy debates.
Major system-wide reviews are already underway, from the Ofsted inspection framework, to the national curriculum, to the long-overdue SEND review.
The Schools North East Annual Summit 2025 is a unique chance to lead. We invite school and trust leaders to take the lead in rebooting the system on our terms, to influence the reforms already in motion and ensure they reflect the needs of our schools, our pupils, and our communities. Book now.
