Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on school budgets of the Association of School and College Leaders October 2022 survey findings that (a) 58 per cent of respondents are considering/likely to reduce teaching staff and increase class sizes, (b) 43 per cent were considering reducing curriculum options and (c) 55 per cent were considering reducing the number of teaching assistants.

The Association of School and College Leader’s survey findings were published in October 2022. In November, the 2022 Autumn Statement announced additional investment in schools. As a result, the core schools budget will increase by £2 billion in both 2023/24 and 2024/25, over and above totals announced in the 2021 Autumn Budget and Spending Review. This year, schools' funding is already £4 billion higher than last year. The Autumn Statement means it will rise by another £3.5 billion, on top of that, next year. Taken together, that means a 15% increase in funding in two years.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies have noted this additional funding will fully cover expected increases in school costs up to 2024 and will take spending per pupil back to at least 2010 levels in real terms. This means 2024/25 will be the highest ever level of spending on schools in real terms per pupil. It will enable head teachers to continue to concentrate funding in the areas that positively impact educational attainment. This includes high quality teaching and targeted support to the children who need it most.

The Department recognises that every school’s circumstances are different. Where schools are in financial difficulty, they should contact their Local Authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency.