School spending per pupil is set to fall by the biggest amount in at least 30 years, new research has revealed today.
A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found spending per pupil is set to fall by 6.5% between 2015–16 and 2019–20. It also found that spending per student in further education will fall by 13% by 2020.
The report - Long-Run Comparisons of Spending per Pupil across Different Stages of Education - analyses the current spending per pupil at different stages of education in England for the first time.
It found spending on early-years education is set to rise by 38% by 2020, with the Government spending £1,700 per child.
‘The last 30 years have seen huge changes in spending priorities in education,’ said Luke Sibieta, an author of the report and an associate director at IFS.
‘There is a strong case for the increased spending on early years’ education. The rationale for focussing cuts on 16-18 year olds and in further education is much less obvious. The actions – as opposed to the rhetoric – of both Labour and Conservative governments suggest that they are agreed this is a low priority area for spending. Why they think that is unclear.’
