England reaches a new milestone in school structure
The Department for Education’s latest Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics 2024/25 release confirms a historic shift: academies now outnumber council-maintained schools.
At a glance
- 11,280 academies vs 10,743 maintained schools
- 83 per cent of secondary and 42 per cent of primary schools now academies
- Overall pupil numbers down 0.7 per cent year on year
“Academisation is reshaping how schools plan and buy,” says Findel Education. “Greater autonomy allows leaders to invest in the areas that make the biggest difference to pupils.”
Pupil numbers are falling for the first time in a decade
The same dataset highlights a clear demographic turning point. Total pupil numbers are falling – first in primary schools and now gradually in secondary. Even the independent sector shows contraction, with around 11,000 pupils leaving private education after VAT changes to fees. Yet the number of operating schools continues to rise, indicating a market reshaping rather than shrinking.
Complexity is rising even as cohorts shrink
The fall in pupil numbers is offset by rising need. Free School Meal eligibility has reached 25.7 per cent, the highest figure on record. Schools are working harder to balance academic priorities with pastoral care, wellbeing and inclusion. As Findel’s partnerships show, demand is moving from quantity of resources to quality of alignment – ensuring every investment supports both learning and welfare outcomes.
Adapting to a changing landscape
Across England, schools are rethinking how they use space, budgets and partnerships. Many are repurposing underused areas for wraparound care or community learning, while others are consolidating local clusters to share curriculum expertise and reduce duplication. This adaptive mindset mirrors what Findel sees across its family of brands – Hope Education, GLS, Davies Sport and Philip Harris. By combining data-driven forecasting with classroom insight, we help schools plan confidently for the future, whatever their size or structure.
A sector defined by resilience and readiness
England’s education system is evolving toward smaller cohorts, greater autonomy and deeper inclusion. The challenge now is to ensure that fewer pupils never means fewer opportunities. At Findel, our mission remains clear: to give every educator the confidence, resources and insight to deliver exceptional learning. The numbers may change – but the purpose of education, and our commitment to supporting it, never will.