ASCL comment on IFS findings over Covid-related funding for education

Commenting on the briefing note from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) which finds that 30% of Covid-related spending on education in England is due to come from existing budgets, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We’re increasingly concerned about the Treasury’s commitment to education recovery and this research reinforces our fears.

“It suggests that the amount of money trumpeted by the government to support education so far is being heavily supplemented by what the Department for Education is able to find down the back of the departmental sofa.

“The government needs to explain exactly where this money is coming from and provide reassurance that it does not mean that other areas of education are losing out. We are concerned in particular about a change in the rules for allocating pupil premium money for disadvantaged children which has meant that many schools have lost out on funding.

“Education recovery following the pandemic will require a significant multi-year programme of investment – and the Treasury will need to stump up the funding required.”