Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department have considered the sustainability of current per-pupil funding allocations.

The overall core schools budget (CSB) is increasing by £3.7 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the CSB totals £65.3 billion, compared to almost £61.6 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.

The £3.7 billion increase includes the £2.3 billion announced at the October Budget 2024, and £1.4 billion in additional funding being provided to support schools with staff pay awards as well as the increases to employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) from April 2025.

Funding for schools is increasing by £4.2 billion per year by 2028/29, compared to 2025/26. This additional funding will provide an above real terms per pupil increase on the core schools budget, taking per-pupil funding to its highest ever level and enabling us to transform the special educational needs and disabilities system.

This investment is also a critical step forward in our mission to support all children and young people to achieve and thrive and will support teachers and leaders to deliver high and rising standards across every school and for every pupil.