Pressures, Priorities and Possibilities: New Research on Schools’ Readiness for the Schools White Paper: Hosted by Commercial Services Group
Information
In this session, we’ll unveil brand‑new findings from our 2026 research with school leaders, education professionals and parents, offering a rounded picture of how the sector is coping with rising pressures while preparing for the reforms outlined in the Schools White Paper.
Drawing on insights from 1000 respondents, we will explore how leaders are managing the combined challenges of funding constraints, workforce shortages, increasing SEND demand, behaviour pressures and heightened parental expectations. We will also examine how parents view the support their children receive, and the extent to which they recognise the systemic pressures schools face.
By bringing both perspectives together, this session highlights a system that is deeply committed to children but operating at significant capacity. We will share:
The biggest pressures affecting schools today and how these have shifted over the past 12 months
Leaders’ views on the practical deliverability of SEND reform, including ISPs, specialist access, and the development of inclusion bases
How schools feel about the Government’s ambition for a trust‑based system, including the opportunities and tensions it creates
Parents’ levels of confidence, satisfaction and concern, and where they align with school leaders
What schools, trusts and local systems need most to sustain improvement and deliver meaningful change
Through these insights, we aim to provide constructive, evidence‑based recommendations that support leaders, inform policymakers and strengthen collaboration across the sector.
