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Extra cash in school budgets in funding shake-up | Extra cash in school budgets in funding shake-up |
(35 minutes later) | |
Schools in England are being promised an extra £1.3bn over two years, as the government responded to pressure from campaigns over funding shortages. | |
But the cash for schools will be taken from elsewhere in the education budget, such as spending on free schools. | |
The Institute for Fiscal Studies says it represents a real-terms freeze on school budgets for the next two years. | |
Education Secretary Justine Greening told MPs she recognised there was public concern over school funding. | |
Ms Greening told the House of Commons this "significant investment" would help to "raise standards, promote social mobility and to give every child the best possible education". | Ms Greening told the House of Commons this "significant investment" would help to "raise standards, promote social mobility and to give every child the best possible education". |
'Finally listening' | 'Finally listening' |
But Labour's shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, said: "This is all being funded without a penny of new money from the Treasury. | |
"They are not committing any new money and have not been clear about exactly what programmes they will be cutting to plug the funding back hole." | |
But Jules White, a West Sussex head teacher who co-ordinated a campaign over funding shortages, said: "The government finally appears to be listening." | But Jules White, a West Sussex head teacher who co-ordinated a campaign over funding shortages, said: "The government finally appears to be listening." |
But he cautioned that any increase would need to keep up with "rising pupil numbers and inflationary costs". | But he cautioned that any increase would need to keep up with "rising pupil numbers and inflationary costs". |
Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said this was a "step in the right direction and an acknowledgment of the huge level of concern around the country on this issue". | Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said this was a "step in the right direction and an acknowledgment of the huge level of concern around the country on this issue". |
But he said schools would still have to see the implications of the money being "saved from elsewhere in education budget". | But he said schools would still have to see the implications of the money being "saved from elsewhere in education budget". |
Chris Keates leader of the NASUWT teachers' union called Ms Greening's statement "a recycled announcement of recycled money". | Chris Keates leader of the NASUWT teachers' union called Ms Greening's statement "a recycled announcement of recycled money". |
Jo Yurky, who headed a parents' campaign over funding, said this was "positive news" and an "amazing turn-around" in attitude from ministers, but pressure needed to be kept up on protecting funding. | Jo Yurky, who headed a parents' campaign over funding, said this was "positive news" and an "amazing turn-around" in attitude from ministers, but pressure needed to be kept up on protecting funding. |
A joint statement from the NUT and ATL teachers' unions accused the government of "smoke and mirrors statements on school funding". | A joint statement from the NUT and ATL teachers' unions accused the government of "smoke and mirrors statements on school funding". |
"Whilst any extra money is welcome this isn't enough to stop the huge cuts that schools are making," said the teachers' unions. | "Whilst any extra money is welcome this isn't enough to stop the huge cuts that schools are making," said the teachers' unions. |
School funding became a major issue during the general election, with school leaders and teachers' unions warning that budget shortages would mean cuts to staffing and subjects. | School funding became a major issue during the general election, with school leaders and teachers' unions warning that budget shortages would mean cuts to staffing and subjects. |
They pointed to evidence from the National Audit Office and the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which warned of £3bn funding gap and schools facing an 8% real-terms budget cut. | They pointed to evidence from the National Audit Office and the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which warned of £3bn funding gap and schools facing an 8% real-terms budget cut. |
During the election, the Conservatives had promised an extra £1bn per year, which on top of planned increases, would have meant the core schools budget rising by about £4bn in 2021-22. | During the election, the Conservatives had promised an extra £1bn per year, which on top of planned increases, would have meant the core schools budget rising by about £4bn in 2021-22. |
Most of this extra funding was going to come from scrapping free meals for all infants, a policy which was subsequently ditched. | Most of this extra funding was going to come from scrapping free meals for all infants, a policy which was subsequently ditched. |
Under the plans announced by Ms Greening on Monday, the overall core schools budget will rise by £2.6bn between 2017-18 and 2019-20. | Under the plans announced by Ms Greening on Monday, the overall core schools budget will rise by £2.6bn between 2017-18 and 2019-20. |
All schools will receive at least an increase of 0.5% in cash terms. | All schools will receive at least an increase of 0.5% in cash terms. |
The Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Layla Moran said: "This is a desperate attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes. | The Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Layla Moran said: "This is a desperate attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes. |
"Schools are still facing cuts to their budgets once inflation and increasing class sizes are taken into account." | "Schools are still facing cuts to their budgets once inflation and increasing class sizes are taken into account." |
As well as concerns about the overall amount of money available, there has been controversy over how it is divided between individual schools. | As well as concerns about the overall amount of money available, there has been controversy over how it is divided between individual schools. |
A new National Funding Formula was announced by education secretary Justine Greening before Christmas. | A new National Funding Formula was announced by education secretary Justine Greening before Christmas. |
Ms Greening said the new formula would go ahead and would address unfair and inconsistent levels of funding. | Ms Greening said the new formula would go ahead and would address unfair and inconsistent levels of funding. |
Under the new arrangements, from 2018-19, the minimum funding per secondary pupil would be set at £4,800 per year. | Under the new arrangements, from 2018-19, the minimum funding per secondary pupil would be set at £4,800 per year. |
For many years there have been complaints that schools in different parts of the country were receiving different levels of per pupil funding. | For many years there have been complaints that schools in different parts of the country were receiving different levels of per pupil funding. |
Details of an updated version of the formula, with budgets for individual schools, are being promised for the autumn. | Details of an updated version of the formula, with budgets for individual schools, are being promised for the autumn. |