Commenting following the Chancellor's spring statement,
Julia Harnden, Funding Specialist at the Association of School
and College Leaders, said:
“Nothing in the spring statement changes the bleak financial
situation being faced by schools and colleges. The reality is
that many will have to make further cuts to their budgets and
thus the educational provision they are able to provide to
children and young people.
“We look forward to the outcome of the spending review in June -
which will determine departmental expenditure to 2028-29 but the
1.2% average real-terms growth set out in the spring statement
looks very tight given the competing demands of different
departments. It is ominous that the government says it intends to
drive efficiencies across the public sector and we would once
again point out that all possible 'efficiencies' were exhausted
long ago in schools and colleges and that any action to further
drive down costs is better known as 'cuts'.
“Increased capital spending is welcome, and it is vital that a
fair proportion is allocated to education to allow schools and
colleges to make the repairs and refurbishments they desperately
need. This would only begin to address the £3.6 billion shortfall
in capital funding for education since 2021.”
