School spending covers pupils in state-funded schools aged 5–16, as well as pupils aged 16–18 in school sixth forms. In 2018–19, total school spending in England – excluding early years and sixth-form funding – stood at about £44 billion in 2019–20 prices.
Figure 3.1 sets out how spending per pupil has changed over time, combining spending done by schools; spending done by local authorities on behalf of schools (such as central spending on Special Educational Needs); and sixth-form funding for pupils aged 16 to 19.
On this comprehensive measure of total spending per pupil, there have been cuts of 8% in real terms between 2009–10 and 2018–19. Reversing these cuts would cost £4.7 billion a year by 2022–23.
The falls have been fastest since 2015–16; spending per pupil fell by 5% in real terms between 2015–16 and 2019–20, which includes a small fall of 0.5% in 2019–20. Reversing these cuts would cost £3.3bn by 2022–23, or by £2.7bn if done straight away in 2020–21.
Table 3.1 sets out estimates of the cost of reversing past cuts to school spending by 2022-23. We consider the cost of reversing both the cuts of 5% since 2015–16, and the bigger 8% cut since 2009–10. We also analyse two different paths to get there: increasing school spending steadily over the next three years, or reversing the cuts immediately in 2020-21 (and then protecting the new funding level in real terms). The table shows what each of these options would cost over the coming years. All figures are in 2019–20 prices.
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Other findings from the school spending chapter include:
- Growth in teacher numbers has failed to keep pace with rising pupil numbers. Whilst primary school teacher numbers have risen by 11% since 2010, pupil numbers have grown by 17%. In secondary schools, teacher numbers have fallen by 20,000 or by just under 10% between 2010 and 2018.
- Teaching Assistant numbers continue to rise in primary schools, by 40% since 2010. TA numbers in secondary schools have fallen by about 13% since 2011.
- Employer pension contributions. This analysis excludes the effect of the rise in employer pension contributions from 16% to 24% of gross salaries, which takes effect for schools from September 2019. Schools will be compensated for this rise in the current financial year. Continuing this compensation beyond this year will cost a further £1.5bn per year on top of any other funding commitments.
- Total school spending per pupil was about £6,600 in Scotland in 2018-19. This is £600 higher than spending per pupil in England (£6,000), with spending per pupil in Wales £200 lower at £5,800. Spending per pupil was lowest in Northern Ireland, at £5,500 per pupil.
This page sets out findings from a pre-released chapter of our annual report on education spending in England. We will launch the report at Church House Conference Centre, London from 10:00 - 12:00 on Thursday 19 September 2019.