Skip to content
  • Go to Reform.uk
  • Support us
  • Who we are

Education

The Department for Education has the third largest annual spend across government, with a Departmental Expenditure Limit of £73.3 billion in 2018-19. Since 2010, education spending has decreased in real terms. School and further education spending per pupil, for example, have both fallen by 8 per cent.

The new Government has focused considerable domestic attention on education spending. In the 2019 Spending Round, it committed to raising per pupil school spending, increase newly qualified teachers’ salaries and investing in further education.

It is vital that this additional money is spent effectively to tackle the challenges faced by the education sector. Schools with crippling deficits, poor teacher recruitment and retention, and concerns over the implementation of T Levels still require attention.

More money, fewer problems? The case for targeted education spending media coverage
On 19 December 2019 Reform launched its new report 'More money, fewer problems? The case for targeted education spending'.
  • Press
Fact Sheet: LA School Spending
The Government has pledged to 'level up' funding for schools, but school finances are a mixed picture. Almost 30% of local authority maintained secondary schools are in the red, while over 40% are in the Black.
  • Research
More money, fewer problems? The case for targeted education spending – Full report
This piece examines the proportion of maintained schools in surplus and deficit, the levels of surplus and deficit and regional variations to gain a more comprehensive picture of school finances.
  • Research
More money, less problems for schools?
The Department for Education is the third highest spending department - will more money mean better outcomes?
  • Blog

Get in touch

If you're interested in public service reform we'd love to hear from you. And if you'd like to be kept up to date with our work, please subscribe to our mailing list.

© 2022 Reform Spending