Half of academy trusts could be in deficit in two years

More than half of academy trusts in England could fall into deficit within two years without additional financial support, a new analysis suggests. 

The Confederation of School Trusts (CST) said higher-than-expected, unfunded pay offers for staff, spiralling energy costs and inflation had led to huge budget blackholes. 

As a result, trusts are already looking to make cuts including reducing curriculums, increasing class sizes and closing specialist facilities in specialist and alternative provision (AP) schools.