School Leaders Survey: Sharing insights, emerging opportunities and challenges facing the nation’s schools
We’re inviting you and other leaders of the nation's schools and academies to share your views in our School Leaders Survey.
We capture and share your views on the policy landscape, strategic priorities for schools and trusts explore emerging challenges facing the sector. These topical sections have included Ofsted reform, parental complaints, SEND and the use of AI.
We’re really keen to hear about your experience and to understand how changes across the sector are impacting you, your staff and pupils.
School leaders survey Summer 2025: Key findings available now
Research for this survey was carried out during May 2025 and nearly 200 school leaders responded, representing over 1,700 schools, collectively responsible for nearly 1 million pupils from across all regions of England.
During the government's first year in office, we’ve had draft legislation, announcements on funding and on SEND reform. The clear sense from this summer's survey is that school leaders' views on the impact of government policy has shifted from neutrality to dissatisfaction.
Our survey has always reported concerns around funding but now, more than ever, the financial backdrop seems to permeate throughout.
In this edition we’ve taken a deeper dive into schools’ experience managing pupil exclusions, alternative provision and key challenges such as striking the balance between addressing behavioural challenges whilst being inclusive.
We also explore school leaders’ views on early years provision, in the wake of the Secretary of State making this a key investment area. Download the report now to find out more.
Key stats
This data is from the School Leaders Surveys conducted in summer 2025, representing leadership of over 1,700 schools from across all regions of England.
Previous survey results
Thought Leadership - School leaders survey
Survey shows growing dissatisfaction with government policy amidst financial uncertainty
Press Release - School leaders survey
Browne Jacobson’s latest School Leaders Survey illustrates need for better SEND guidance as exclusions rise
Thought Leadership - School leaders survey
School Leaders Survey Autumn 2024: The results are in
Thought Leadership - School leaders survey
School leaders survey Spring 2024 - the results are in
Thought Leadership - School leaders survey
School leaders survey Autumn 2023 – the results are in
Thought Leadership - School leaders survey
School leaders survey Summer 2023 – the results are in
Key contacts
Nick MacKenzie
Partner
