- The Conservative Government is investing an extra £2 billion next year and the year after supporting schools in Castle Point. The extra funding will deliver the highest real terms spending on schools in history by 2024–25.
- The Conservative Government is also providing a share of £500 million for energy efficiency upgrades for schools and colleges in Castle Point, helping them to save on their bills. The extra funding will support small-scale energy improvements including installing better heating controls, insulation to reduce heat loss from pipes, or switching to energy efficient lighting.
Rebecca Harris has welcomed extra funding from the Conservative Government, providing a share of £2 billion this year and next for primary schools, secondary schools, and high needs pupils in Castle Point. The £2 billion for schools over each of the next two years, announced in the Autumn Statement last month will increase school spending to the highest real terms levels in history. For a typical primary school with 200 pupils, the extra funding from the Autumn Statement will equate to approximately £28,000, and approximately £170,000 for a typical secondary school with 900 pupils.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has highlighted this uplift will mean 2024-25 will be the highest spending year in history for schools. In total the school budget will be £58.8 billion in 2024-25 – meaning the Conservative Government is putting more into schools than ever before.
Average funding per pupil for mainstream schools will increase by approximately 5% overall in the next financial year compared to 2022-23. As part of this funding, local councils will also receive an extra £400 million for high needs budgets to help support children with special education needs or disabilities.
School leaders continue to be supported by the Conservative Government to invest in high quality teaching and tutoring. Over two million tutoring courses have now been started and an additional £24 million is being invested to boost children’s literacy skills to support children adversely impacted by the pandemic, alongside £60 million this year and next for the Maths Hub Programme.
Rebecca has also welcomed extra funding from the Conservative Government, providing a share of £500 million for energy efficiency upgrades for schools and colleges in Castle point. The extra funding will help schools and colleges save on their energy bills during the winter months and manage energy consumption, after Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine has driven up energy prices worldwide. The funding comes on top of £1.8 billion of capital investment already committed this year by the Conservative Government for improving the condition of school buildings.
The extra funding from the Conservative Government will not only help schools and colleges save money, but it will also make them more energy efficient during the cold period and increase winter resilience for future years. On average, a primary school will receive approximately £16,000, a secondary school will receive around £42,000, and further education college groups will benefit from approximately £290,000.
State schools and colleges will be supported with installing better heating controls, insulation to reduce heat loss from pipes, or switching to energy efficient lighting. The funding will be available in the coming weeks, helping to accelerate work ahead of the colder months, schools and colleges will be able to decide what energy upgrades to prioritise. The Conservative Government’s Energy Relief will also continue supporting schools and colleges this winter, reducing how much they need to spend on their energy and giving them greater certainty over their budgets.
Commenting, Rebecca Harris MP said:
“I am committed to delivering on our community’s priorities, including education investment – supporting young people to reach their full potential, particularly those who face challenges or who need extra support.”
“That is why I welcome that the Conservative Government delivering the highest real terms spending on schools in history, providing a share of £2 billion this year and next for primary schools, secondary schools, and high needs pupils in Castle Point.
“I am also pleased the Conservative Government is providing a share of £500 million for energy efficiency upgrades for schools and colleges in Castle Point, helping them to save on their bills by installing better heating controls, insulation to reduce heat loss from pipes, or switching to energy efficient lighting.
“We are delivering on our commitment to provide a good education and deliver opportunity for all – wherever they come from and whatever their background.”
Commenting, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:
“Education is rightly a top priority for this Government and we will continue to strive to provide every child with a world-class education.”
“This Government recognises that a good education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet when it comes to making people’s lives better. That is why we are investing an extra £2 billion into our schools next year and the year after - the highest real terms spending on schools in history by 2024–25.
“We’re putting this cash in the hands of school and college leaders quickly, so they can decide what work is needed and so that our brilliant teachers can focus on teaching in a warm and safe environment.”