Funding for each English schoolchild's education has been in a 14-year stagnation since 2010, with real-terms per-pupil spending equivalent to that year's levels. Teacher salaries have effectively fallen back to 2001 real-terms values, new analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies reveals.
The report highlights a significant decline in investment for England's school infrastructure. Real-terms investment in school buildings is 25% below what it was in the mid-2000s, and the government has allocated 40% less than its estimated requirement for maintaining school buildings in suitable condition. This is particularly concerning given the RAAC crisis affecting many school buildings.
Between 2010 and 2019, total school spending in England saw a modest 1% real-terms increase, despite pupil numbers growing by 11%. This led to a 9% real-terms decrease in spending per pupil. Since 2019, an £6 billion (11%) real-terms increase in total spending has brought per-pupil funding back to 2010 levels.
The IFS analysis shows that the recent trend is starkly different from Labour governments between 1997 and 2010, when spending per pupil rose by an average of 5%-6% per year in real terms. A significant factor contributing to the current situation is the 60% increase since 2015 in pupils with assessed special educational needs (SEN). This rise in demand has absorbed nearly half of the £7.6 billion increase in school spending, putting pressure on already strained budgets.
School leaders have voiced their concerns, with Paul Whiteman from the NAHT school leaders’ union stating that schools have been "sidelined for years" when it comes to national priorities. Pepe Di'Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, described the lack of per-pupil funding growth as "shameful," particularly given the rapid increase in responsibilities and costs faced by schools.
Looking ahead, the IFS report suggests that a future government might view an anticipated 5% drop in pupil numbers as an opportunity for cost savings. However, the think tank warned that pursuing such savings would likely result in school closures and job losses. Luke Sibieta from the IFS noted that many public services face potential cuts under either a Conservative or Labour government, making school spending an attractive target despite the negative consequences.