“Nothing in the spring statement changes the bleak financial situation being faced by schools and colleges. The reality is that many will have to make further cuts to their budgets and thus the educational provision they are able to provide to children and young people.
“We look forward to the outcome of the spending review in June - which will determine departmental expenditure to 2028-29 but the 1.2% average real-terms growth set out in the spring statement looks very tight given the competing demands of different departments. It is ominous that the government says it intends to drive efficiencies across the public sector and we would once again point out that all possible 'efficiencies' were exhausted long ago in schools and colleges and that any action to further drive down costs is better known as 'cuts'.
“Increased capital spending is welcome, and it is vital that a fair proportion is allocated to education to allow schools and colleges to make the repairs and refurbishments they desperately need. This would only begin to address the £3.6 billion shortfall in capital funding for education since 2021.”