Thank you to all those who have contacted me in the run-up to the Budget about funding for schools. I know many people were bitterly disappointed that apart from £105 million for 15 new special free schools, no other investment for the sector was announced at the Budget.
Education should be at the heart of our plans for this country, but I am concerned there is a lack of ambition for our schools. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), secondary schools with the most disadvantaged pupils saw spending per pupil fall by 12% in real terms between 2010 and 2021, compared with 5% for schools in the most affluent areas. The IFS have also found the purchasing power of school budgets will be about 4% lower in 2024 than in 2010 if we account for likely cost increases, such as staff salary rises.
The problem with our education system is exemplified by the condition of our school buildings in my view. Despite knowing about the risks of reinforced aerated autoclave concrete (RAAC) for months last year, the Government did not take action and over 150 education settings were forced to close days before the start of the Autumn term, causing further disruption to children’s education. The Spring Budget confirmed plans to cut capital investment in education from £6.3 billion pounds this year to £6.1 billion pounds next year.
I support calls to end tax breaks for private schools and for that money to be used to invest in a brilliant education for every child, including thousands of new teachers, ongoing training for school staff, and access to a qualified mental health counsellor at school.
Teachers are overworked, overstretched and undervalued. They do an incredible job but there are simply not enough of them, with the Government continuing to miss its own recruitment targets and almost a third leaving the profession within five years.
We need a brighter future, not simply winding back the clock. I want to see a retention payment made to new teachers when they complete the Early Career Framework – a package of training and support for early career teachers.
