Education and skills

The bill aims to improve education and social care for children. But will it work?

This evidence should prompt us to look beyond simple financial incentives for classroom attendance.

Christine Farquharson's presentation at the Nursery World Business Summit 2025, at America Square Conference Centre, London.

This report studies the long-run effect of the Education Maintenance Allowance on educational attainment, earnings and crime.

This report analyses the Scottish Government’s Budget for 2025–26, with chapters on tax strategy, school spending, public sector pay and more.

Scotland’s schools are relatively well funded. Falling pupil rolls and workforce planning represent both challenges and opportunities going forwards. 

Our latest report on education spending in England shows how further education has faced some of the deepest funding cuts across the education system.

This annual report contains our latest estimates of spending per pupil and resource challenges across different stages of education in England.

2025/26 childcare funding rates offer real-terms protection for the early years budget, with a boost to the funding top-up for disadvantaged children

Spending on special educational needs (SEND) is becoming unsustainable due to the rise in high needs. Reform to SEND funding and provision is needed.

Falls in funding for home students, a decline in international enrolments and higher labour costs put Scottish university finances under pressure.

Teenagers affected by austerity-induced youth club closures performed 4% worse in exams at age 16 and became 14% more likely to commit crimes. 

We respond to government plans to increase the cap on tuition fees for England-domiciled undergraduate students.