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New Government, same funding challenges?

As the dust settles on the 2024 General Election, what does this mean for state education?


For veterans of the academy sector it was notable how little education policy featured as a headline item from any of the main parties. We are a long way from the 2010 campaign when the turbocharging of the academy programme under the Conservative-Liberal coalition changed the landscape of education in England and Wales from something that was almost entirely run by local authorities to the current situation where over 80% of secondary schools are now run as academies.

The education issue that seemed to gain the most traction was the Labour proposal to charge VAT on independent school fees, part of a headline commitment to recruit 6,500 new teachers in key areas “paid for by ending tax breaks for private schools”.

Whilst the focus of media commentary was the potential imposition of VAT on private school fees, the manifesto also indicates that the new Government will abolish the business rates reduction that charitable independent schools are able to access. 


With the new Chancellor having indicated that there will not be a budget until after schools have returned for the autumn term, the impact of any changes on the state sector in terms of pupil numbers leaving the independent sector, or changes to core funding lines and priorities may take some time to flow through. 

In terms of the headline policy, few would argue that there is a significant shortage of qualified teachers in many key areas such as physics and maths: with much focus being placed on the importance of the knowledge economy then there is a clear imperative to ensure that there is a strong base of STEM education in schools.

What was not clear from any of the manifestos was any clear plan to deal with the broader financial pressures facing schools, several of which have been highlighted by the Kreston Academies Surveys and other research. These include:


  • Physical estates 

  • ‘Free’ breakfast clubs in every primary school

  • Pay costs

  • Core funding and reserves


To read this Academy Update in full, please click below. 

     

Contact Us

If you wish to discuss this further, please use the contact one of our Education team members here at James Cowper Kreston. 


If you would like to arrange a virtual meeting to discuss your specific circumstances in relation to any of the above, please get in touch with your usual contact within James Cowper Kreston or contact me using the details below.


Mike Bath

Partner

T: +44 (0) 7557 340691 | E: MBath@jamescowper.co.uk

     

The information in this newsletter must not be relied on as giving sufficient advice in any specific case.   

   
   

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