Cost of living: how to manage the impact on your school

Find practical steps to help you balance your school’s budget and support your school community through financially challenging times.

Last reviewed on 17 January 2024See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 44730
Contents
  1. What not to skimp on
  2. Start by scrutinising your spending procedures
  3. Review your current spending in these areas 
  4. Review your existing subscriptions
  5. Tailor your support to your school community
  6. Maximise fun for minimal funds
  7. See if you can 'poverty proof' your school day

Higher prices are affecting every school differently. You may be in a position where you can use reserves to cover the additional costs for now, but you’ll likely need to make changes sooner or later. Use our guide to help you get started. 

Please note that the inclusion of any commercial product or service doesn’t constitute an endorsement from The Key. 

What not to skimp on

It can be tempting to cut costs wherever possible. However, you should prioritise the following areas when making tricky spending decisions, so you can continue to do right by your school community. 

Keeping pupils well fed and comfortable 

There's no legal minimum temperature for classrooms, but