In a few weeks, chancellor, Jeremy Hunt will set out his utumn fiscal statement. Government departments have been asked to find savings, including the Department for Education. With the school-age population now expected to decline over the next decade, there is actually potential room for savings in the schools budget – at least over the medium-term. However, schools are facing significant cost pressures as a result of rising levels of teacher and support staff pay, as well as rising energy and food prices.
Between 2010 and 2020, school spending per pupil in England fell by about 9 per cent after inflation. This is the largest decline in school spending per pupil in at least 40 years. In recent spending reviews, the government has allocated extra funding to schools. This was expected to allow school spending per pupil to return to 2010 levels by 2024.
