At the moment, the state of play appears to be rosy. (Where's that lump of Oak?)
However, that may not be the case as the year progresses - only time will tell. My feeling is that, although people are worried about redundancy et al, they have a little more money in their pockets at the moment as the mortgage rate falls and other retail costs reduce. Usually, if people want to do it then they'll find the money somewhere. How long this situtaion will remain in play I don't know.
With regards to 'which school' - there are an number at Wellesborne and Coventry - with others at Tatenhill and Turweston if you want to travel that far. If you're not starting yet, then redo the search a little closer to your expected start so that it is more relevant in terms of available options and prices.
If you're worried about your investment then there are (at least) two rules...
1) Don't pay in advance - or if you have to then pay with a credit card. However, some schools will offer a better rate for a small commitment in advance. Moderate the investment to reduce the risk.
2) Get your logbook signed at the end of the flight by your instructor. That way, should the school go under you won't be hanging around for months on end waiting to get a copy of your training records or your progress verified by any new school.
HTH