Campaign Reply - Schools funding and investment

I am absolutely determined that children in Truro and Falmouth and around the country should receive a high-quality education.

More money than ever before is being invested in schools, ensuring every child gets a world-class education. In 2024-25, the total core schools budget will be at its highest-ever level, in both real terms and in real terms per pupil. This budget will total £59.6 billion in 2024-25, an increase of £1.8 billion from this year and on top of the £3.9 billion rise in 2023-24.

Mainstream schools in England will receive an average of around £6,000 for each pupil from next year through the National Funding Formula, with additional funding for teacher pay on top of that. Overall, funding will be at its highest-ever level in real terms per pupil in 2024-25, as measured by the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies, underlining the Government’s commitment to education.

This money can be spent on staff salaries, school trips and classroom equipment which will raise school standards and educational outcomes. These increases form part of the additional £9.8 billion being invested in the schools core budget by 2024-25, compared to 2021-22.

Furthermore, teachers in England received the highest pay award for 30 years (6.5 per cent), after the Government accepted in full the recommendations set out by the independent pay review body. In doing so, the Government meets its manifesto commitment to raise the minimum starting salary for teachers to £30,000 from September. This deal has ensured teachers and school leaders called off strike action.

The Department for Education also committed to a long-term School Rebuilding Programme, renovating 500 schools in England over the next decade. In December 2022, the Government announced that a further 239 schools and sixth form colleges have been provisionally selected for the School Rebuilding Programme, which means that in total 400 schools have benefitted to date. The Government has allocated over £13 billion since 2015 to maintain and improve school facilities across England, including £1.8 billion for the 2022-23 financial year, and an additional £500 million in capital funding to schools and colleges this financial year for energy efficiency upgrades.