- The Conservative Government is investing an extra £2 billion into schools this year and next, with every state school in England benefitting and schools in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages receiving nearly £3 million in extra funding.
- The extra funding will deliver the highest real terms spending per pupil in history by 2024–25. A typical primary school will receive approximately an extra £35,000 and a typical secondary school will receive an extra £200,000.
- This is delivering on the Conservative Government’s commitment to provide a world class education and deliver opportunity for all – wherever they come from and whatever their background – particularly those who face challenges or who need extra support.
Bim Afolami MP has welcomed extra funding from the Conservative Government, providing schools in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages with £2,959,981 in extra funding, as part of £2 billion this year and next for primary schools and secondary schools in England.
Every state school in England will receive extra cash following the additional £2 billion investment. A typical primary school will receive approximately an extra £35,000, and £200,000 for a typical secondary school.
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 schools budget will be £58.8 billion in 2024-25 – meaning the Conservative Government is putting more into school than ever before. It also means school funding is set to rise faster than forecast inflation in both 2023–24 and 2024–25.
Schools will receive their first payment by 10 May 2023 and will be able to choose how best to invest the extra funding, including to pay for teacher salary uplifts and teaching assistants.
The remainder of the £2 billion funding boost will be used to increase Pupil Premium funding rates, which are rising by five per cent in 2023–24. This extra funding will support disadvantaged pupils, local authorities’ high needs budgets, and special schools, making sure every child with special educational needs and disabilities receives the support and high quality education they deserve.
Commenting, Bim Afolami MP said:
“I am committed to delivering on our community’s priorities, including investing in a high quality schools to support young people to reach their full potential, particularly those who face challenges or who need extra support.”
“That is why I welcome nearly £3 million in extra funding for schools in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages from the Conservative Government, as part of £2 billion in extra school funding this year and next across England, delivering the highest real terms spending on schools in history.
“We are delivering on our commitment to provide a world-class education and deliver opportunity for all – wherever they come from and whatever their background.”
Commenting, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:
“I am hugely grateful to all our fantastic teachers, school leaders and support staff for all their incredible work and the immeasurable impact they have on the lives of children every day.
“Teachers must continue to have the resources they need, and this extra cash will make sure that they do.
“With school funding set to be at its highest ever level next year, even accounting for inflation, parents everywhere can be confident schools are being supported to let teachers get on and do what they do best - teach.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Conservative Government is investing in schools and colleges by:
- Providing £2 billion extra school funding this year and next, helping schools and colleges with the highest spending on schools in history. 2024-25 will be the highest spending year in history for schools – the total the schools budget will be £58.8 billion in 2024-25, with the Conservative Government putting more into schools than ever before (DfE, Press Release, 26 April 2023, link; DfE, Press Release, 6 December 2022, link).
- Providing £500 million for energy efficiency upgrades for schools and colleges, helping them to save on their bills. On average, a primary school will receive approximately £16,000, a secondary school will receive around £42,000, and further education college groups will receive approximately £290,000 (DfE, Press Release, 6 December 2022, link).
- Boosting schools and skills under the Levelling Up plans with 55 Education Investment Areas and extra funding and support for skills to Level Up across the country. Through the Levelling Up White Paper, the Conservative Government are targeting support to 55 areas across the country where school outcomes are weakest to target investment, support and action, including: retention payments to help keep the best teachers, new specialist sixth form free schools, and new reading, writing and maths targets (DfE, Press Release, 1 February 2022, link).
- Building new and improved facilities for 400 schools, giving more children the world class learning environment they deserve. We have announced that 239 more schools will benefit from renovation projects on top of the first 161 schools announced previously as part of our £1 billion School Rebuilding Programme, providing new educational facilities for pupils (DfE, Press Release, 16 December 2022, link; DfE, Press Release, 12 July 2021, link).
