Funding
In recent days, the Resolution Foundation has suggested that
Government spending is likely to return to 1970s levels over the
next parliament, whichever party wins the General Election. Given
recent spending pledges by the Conservatives, it is therefore clear
that schools funding will be a key battle ground during the General
Election campaign. The Conservatives have already promised an extra
£7.1bn by 2022 (an extra £4.3bn in real terms) while
the Liberal Democrats have demanded an emergency £2.2bn cash
injection and pledged an extra £10bn a year. Labour has today
announced a £150bn social transformation fund for schools,
hospitals, care homes and council houses but has yet to provide the
detail on schools funding. As always, the devil will be in the
detail for each party with the real-terms benefit and impact on the
national funding formula and areas of highest disadvantage
receiving scrutiny. Schools should therefore look for the further
detail in each
