ASCL sets out Budget priorities for education

Commenting on Wednesday’s Budget and the priorities for education, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We need to see a commitment from the Chancellor which recognises the vital role of education in national recovery in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

“Most importantly, he must set out the government’s long-term spending plans for catch-up support.

“Last week, the government announced a £700 million recovery package, and the Education Secretary indicated that longer-term support over the length of this parliament will be vital to ensure children make up for lost learning.

“These were welcome words but the Chancellor has to attach some figures to what this longer-term support will look like.

“We also want to see more action from the government to support schools and colleges with the extraordinary costs caused by the Covid pandemic.

“These include safety measures such as enhanced cleaning, signage, and hand sanitiser, as well as lost revenue from income generation, and teacher supply costs to cover absences.

“The funding so far made available by the government to help with these costs is nowhere near enough, and more support is urgently needed.”