Commenting on today's Spending Review, Jude Hillary, NFER's Head
of Policy and Practice, said:
“Recognising the challenging fiscal backdrop, NFER welcomes the
announcement that per-pupil funding in real terms is set to
increase by 1.1 per cent per year over the next three years.
“Despite the welcome announcement of additional funding for
schools, schools' budgets are likely to remain under strain in
the context of meeting increases in staffing costs and
accommodating the impact of falling pupil numbers on their
settings.
“We also welcome the £1.2 billion investment per year by
2028/29 in training and apprenticeships. This funding
is a positive step toward equipping young people with the skills
they need to thrive in the workforce of the future.
“High-quality technical education and training can open up
life-changing opportunities – tackling skills shortages,
supporting social mobility and helping to drive economic growth.
NFER's Skills Imperative 2035 programme highlights the importance
of building the essential employment skills that will be in
greatest demand over the next decade. Targeted investment in
training and apprenticeships can play a vital role in developing
those skills, and we look forward to seeing how the Government's
post-16 education and skills strategy can contribute to this.”
