Responding to today’s spring statement, Geoff Barton, General
Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to funding the provision
of free sanitary products in secondary schools and colleges in
England from the next school year. Such is the extent of pupil
poverty that many girls are unable to afford the cost of sanitary
products, and schools fund this provision themselves to ensure
pupils do not end up missing school. The funding commitment
announced today is a welcome step, but much more needs to be done
to address the general issue of pupil poverty which has become
more common in recent years because of the high levels of
disadvantage in our country.
“We note also the Chancellor’s restated commitment to technical
and vocational skills with the introduction of T levels in 2020.
Any investment in education is welcome, particularly in the
extremely poorly funded 16-19 sector. But this investment does
nothing for all those students who are studying A-levels and
other post-16 qualifications in a range of subjects, including
technical and vocational subjects. The level of funding for these
students is far too low, at a meagre £4,000 per student. It is
extraordinary that the government continues to believe this level
of funding is sufficient given that it values the next phase of
university education at up to £9,250.
“It is extremely disappointing that the spring statement offered
no additional money to improve the level of funding in schools
and colleges in general despite the overwhelming evidence that
the system is creaking under the strain of funding pressures. We
look forward to engaging constructively with the government in
the forthcoming spending review to secure a settlement which
gives our schools and colleges the funding they need and young
people deserve.”
