According to a leading British economic think tank, per-pupil education spending in England has been frozen for an unprecedented 14 years since the Conservative Party came to power.
In its latest analysis of school spending, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said budgets per pupil are now at 2010 levels in real terms, but teacher salaries are roughly the same as they were in 2001 in real terms.
IFS analysis shows that much of England’s ageing school infrastructure is affected by the RAAC (reduced concrete) crisis, with investment in it falling by 25% in real terms since the mid-2000s.
ReportsThe report, intended to inform debate in the run-up to the general election, also points out that the government has allocated 40% less money than its own estimates of what is needed to keep school buildings in a decent condition.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said: “This survey shows in the most stark terms how schools have been neglected for many years when it comes to national priorities.”
Pepe Diasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It is shameful that there has been no increase in funding per pupil for 14 years whilst schools struggle with exponential increases in responsibilities and costs.”
According to the IFS, between 2010, when the Conservatives were in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, and 2019, total spending on schools in England increased by 1% in real terms, but the number of pupils increased by 11% during this period, so school spending per pupil actually fell by 9%.
Since 2019, total spending has increased by £6 billion (11%) in real terms, returning per pupil funding to its 2010 level. Under Labour governments from 1997 to 2010, per pupil spending increased by an average of 5% to 6% per year in real terms, according to the IFS.
The IFS also cited a 60% increase in the number of pupils assessed as having the highest special educational needs since 2015 as a major driver of recent spending, accounting for almost half of the £7.6 billion increase in school spending since 2015.
Looking ahead to the next parliament, the IFS warned that while the new government may see a projected 5% fall in pupil numbers as an opportunity to make savings, it will almost certainly lead to school closures and job cuts.
Luke Sibieta, an IFS research fellow and author of the report, said: “Under current plans, many other areas of public service spending look set to face cuts under both a Conservative and Labour government.”
“The new administration may seek to cut school spending in response to declining student enrollment, but achieving such savings is easier said than done, as it will likely require layoffs and even school closures.”
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “This report reveals the damage caused by 14 years of failed governments that have shown no regard for the impact their policies have had on England’s education system.
“The scale of the challenge to ensure that children and young people get the education they deserve is enormous. Band-aid solutions will not work. Education must be made a top priority in this election.”
A Conservative spokesman said: “Education is the closest thing to a silver bullet that has the power to transform the life of every child across the country.”
“That’s why we’ve increased school funding in real terms per pupil to its highest level ever, created 60,000 extra places in special needs schools and recruited more than 27,000 extra teachers since 2010.”
