EDUCATION-JAN10-PG16-17:Page 6 04/01/2010 16:15 Page 16
The Budget
It’s safe to spend
It’s important to ring-fence budget for procurement – there
is no need to squirrel away funds in case the economy gets
worse. The Pre-Budget report has promised schools will
continue to receive an increase in funding until 2013 and
trade association BESA urges schools to think about
investing rather than holding back.
A
s the UK still waits to move out of recession, schools could be The pre-Budget report was largely welcomed by head teachers as
forgiven for putting off procurement and putting funds to one ‘better than expected’ although they were concerned that cuts to the
side in case of a “rainy day”. Department for Children, Schools and Families would be felt down the
But there are concerns that if schools do not spend their available line.
funds on new equipment, at the very least they run the risk of Other Budget news affecting schools included plans to raise the
compounding the economic problems facing the manufacturing threshold for children to qualify for free school meals. This follows
sector. And even more worryingly – they could have their unspent complaints that previously the bar was set too high. This will mean that
budgets taken back by their local authorities. an extra half a million children will be able to take up free school meals.
“We have definitely seen cases of schools holding back some of their Mr. Darling also announced that the government planned to put
procurement budgets in savings accounts ‘just in case,’” says Ray 10,000 students from low-income backgrounds through internships in
Barker at BESA, the trade association that represents manufacturers industry and other careers that have traditionally been out of reach.
and distributors to the education industry.
“We would like to reassure schools that there is money for
them and there will be for the next three or four years.
Alastair Darling’s pre-Budget report made it clear that schools
would not face cuts. In fact, they will receive a 0.7 per cent
annual rise in funding through to 2013. There is no reason at
all for schools not to invest in the resources that make the
real difference in schools,” he adds.
Alastair Darling promised to protect education from the
‘tough and challenging’ public spending climate. As well as
the 0.7 per cent increase for schools, funding will rise by 0.9
per cent for 16-19 year-olds in sixth forms and colleges during
the same period.
The news is not as good for universities and colleges,
however, who fear that their budgets could be slashed as
they are expected to make £600m in savings. The Department
for Children, Schools and Families will also have to save
£350m from their central budgets. Teachers will also see a
one per cent pay cap for two years from 2011.
In addition, £300m has been put aside to guarantee that
every 16-24 year-old who has been out of work for more than
six months will get a job or training place. Currently, the
threshold is 12 months of unemployment.
Ed Balls, the schools secretary said, “I believe schools will
warmly welcome the Chancellor’s announcement that they are
guaranteed real terms rises for the next three years. And the
extra funding announced today will also mean we can meet
our September Guarantee to school leavers over the next year
and in future years as we raise the education leaving age to 18.
“The Pre-Budget Report sets out a balanced package of
measures to secure economic recovery and go for growth,
reduce the deficit in a fair way and protect frontline services
including schools, colleges and children’s centres. This is a
tough settlement for schools but the combination of real terms
rises in funding for schools and tougher expectations on
efficiencies means schools will have the resources to meet the
frontline cost pressures they face,” he added.
16
www.education-today.co.uk January 2010
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54