If every penny is stretched at the moment, here’s a hopeful thought:

You might have £10k in your budget.
You just haven’t found it yet.

I see this all the time in schools — money that’s there, quietly hiding in plain sight.

Here are a few places it loves to hide:

• Contracts that haven’t been renegotiated for years
  
  
• A 0.5 FTE that isn’t needed anymore (often found in the office)
  
  
• Two lower-paid roles that could become one stronger post
  
  
• Subscriptions you don’t use
  
  
• Energy or photocopying deals no one has reviewed
  
  
• Services you still pay for but haven’t used since Covid
  
  

And here’s the fun bit:
Ask your SLT to go on a £10k hunt.

Give them a week.
Tell them it’s a challenge — not a burden.

And it doesn’t have to mean firing anyone. If there is a person saving to be had, just knowing it’s there means you can take the opportunity when it arises.

Even if you only find half of it, that’s £5k you didn’t have yesterday.
And more importantly, it puts you and your team back in control.

So here’s a something to explore this week:
👉 Where might your hidden £10k be waiting?

And if £10k feels too hard, make it £5k or £1k.

Good luck – and let me know how you get on.

Sonia 💛

P.S. If you know a head, or a group of heads, who’d love a hopeful budget email for once, feel free to pass this on (and if they like it they can sign up for themselves here).