(England) School trust announces no more special schools "due to size of financial deficits"

Jan 6, 2026, tes Magazine: It’s ‘impossible’ to take on special schools, says MAT

https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/its-impossible-take-special-schools-says-mat 

Thirty-school trust says the size of the financial deficits being reported by special schools mean that it cannot take on any more

A multi-academy trust has warned that it cannot take on more special schools due to the size of their financial deficits, despite growing demand for specialist provision.

Meridian Trust describes special educational needs and disabilities provision as a “principal risk” in its latest financial accounts, warning that funding pressures across the system are leaving vulnerable pupils without adequate support.

Despite these growing pressures, the Department for Education has “failed to articulate a coherent position” on SEND, Meridian’s 2024-25 accounts state.

The deficits being reported by special schools have become so significant that it is now “impossible” to welcome additional special schools into the trust, despite growing demand, the MAT says.

A government White Paper due this term is expected to set out plans for reforming the SEND system.

SEND support ‘at risk’

Thirty-school Meridian Trust, based in Cambridgeshire, comprises 13 primaries, 11 secondaries, three special schools, one all-through school, one junior school and one university technical college.

The trust has also taken on five more primary schools since September 2025, which are not included in its 2024-25 accounts.

“Where we would have delighted to welcome more SEND schools into the trust, the scale of thedeficits they are reporting makes that impossible,” the accounts say.

The accounts also state that local authorities have been allowed to fall into “irrecoverable debt”, leaving SEND services underfunded.

The latest DfE figures show that the proportion of special schools in deficit increased to 18.1 per cent in 2024-25, up from 15.5 per cent the previous year.

By comparison, the proportion of local authority-maintained primary schools in deficit increased from 14.7 per cent to 17.4 per cent. For local authority-maintained secondary schools, the figure rose from 13 per cent to 17.6 per cent.

Meridian also says that the DfE’s under-provision of training for SEND teachers, alongside the “comparatively low pay” of support staff, has made recruitment to special schools increasingly difficult.

The trust adds that financial and workforce pressures pose a risk to the quality and sustainability of provision for “our most vulnerable young people”.

SEND pressures are also increasingly reshaping mainstream schools, with demand for support outstripping capacity, resulting in changes to staffing, curriculum and the use of school space, Meridian says.

Balance grows while reserves fall

The accounts show that Meridian had an in-year balance of £1.05 million in 2024-25, up from £622,000 the previous year.

The trust says it invested £12 million in new building construction, improving the existing estate and acquiring new equipment and IT hardware.

It reported revenue reserves of £12.2 million in the latest financial year, down from £11.4 million the previous year.

The trust adds that it has reviewed its investment strategy to ensure that cash balances are carefully managed and liquidity is maintained at key points throughout the year. It had generated £450,000 from investment returns in 2024-25, down from £533,000 the previous year.