Pre-Budget report: Education

In his 10th and almost certainly last pre-Budget report to MPs, the chancellor has put education at the top of his agenda.

Gordon Brown unveiled an autumn statement on the public finances that will see more money to be spent on capital infrastructure for schools.

Stakeholder Response: National Union of Teachers

Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers said: "This is the best bit of news we have had since Labour came to power.

"The chancellor is to be congratulated. He has taken a significant step to achieving his target of raising levels of spending in state schools to those of private schools.

"The one third increase in capital spending for next year on schools recognises that the current improvements in buildings and equipment must be sustained.

"We must keep our levels of spending in touch with those in other industrialised countries and the challenge from India and China.

"The provision of free books to every primary age child and the additional funding direct to schools to be spent as they feel appropriate will benefit every child in the country.

"The chancellor has recognised the importance of small groups and one to one tuition in ensuring the highest achievement of our young people, including those from the most deprived backgrounds.

"This move will help ensure he achieves his target of 90 per cent of adults achieving five GCSEs by 2020 and a major improvement in adult skills.

"This investment will help schools meet the nation’s need for a highly educated population capable of responding to the demands of the 21st century.

"The Union is a member of the campaign to end child poverty and this investment in a wider context will help achieve the target of halving child poverty by 2010."

 

Stakeholder Response: Age Concern

A spokesman said: "To be ready for the knowledge-based economy, older workers need to be at the centre of planning for skills and education.

"While the chancellor has set education and skills as a priority, we need to see them delivered for older workers in classrooms, lecture halls and workplaces across the country.

"The chancellor is not going to achieve his own goal of 90 per cent of adults with five GCSEs or equivalent by 2020, unless he delivers help for older workers.

"Twenty-two per cent of adults who will be aged below state pension age in 2020 are already over 40 - but a third of this group are without this skill level and with current trends there is little hope that this will be changed.

"Employers and learning providers must overcome decades of entrenched ageism and offer quality training to older workers.

"Without age-based targets and incentives to drive change, we fear that the millions of low skilled adults over 40 may miss out.

"It is also important that there is enough money left over for education unrelated to workforce skills.

"Learning in retirement is linked to prolonged health and independence, with knock on benefits for health and social care budgets."

 

Stakeholder Response: 4 Children

Anne Longfield, chief executive at 4Children, said: "The chancellor has sent a very clear message today with his pledged investment in education and promise to improve the life chances of children in the UK.

"The extra money promised for schools is a very welcome step towards this goal.

"However, as all parents know, a child’s day does not begin and end at the school gates and more needs to be done if Gordon Brown wants to claim the title of the 'children’s chancellor'.

"With raging debate and concerns about teenagers in our society, the issue of how to provide for children within a changing society remains high and this money should be used to help turn schools into community centres for children of all ages.

"One million young people are left hanging around on the street with nothing to do every day – this is simply unacceptable in the current climate of concern about the dangers that face young people today.  

"4Children also welcomes the pledge of £2,000 bursaries towards enabling looked after children to attend university.

"But this is a small drop in the ocean for these most vulnerable children. Statistics show that looked after children suffer from worse education and life chances earlier in life.

"Last year only 11 per cent of children in care attained five good GCSEs compared with 56 per cent of all children.

"This means many never achieve university places. Government needs to invest much earlier in their lives to tackle these inequalities.

"Finally the needs of the poorest families is the government’s ultimate test as persistent and powerful inequalities persist.

"We welcome the announcement of increased child benefit from April 2007 as this provides a quicker and easier support for the poorest families than child tax credits."

Stakeholder Response: CMU Universities Group

Professor Michael Driscoll, vice-chancellor of Middlesex University and chairman of CMU, said: "Vice-chancellors were informed of the response shortly after the end of the chancellor’s pre-Budget report.

"The chancellor announced that £60m would be made available for research with commercial value with effect from Spring 2007.

"However, the DfES announcement delays any reform of the RAE (the mechanism by which the bulk of research funding to universities is distributed) until 2011 and extends the transitional period until 2014.

"There has been widespread criticism of the RAE by universities because of its restricted and retrospective nature and because it has concentrated research funding in a small group of universities."

 

Stakeholder Response: NASUWT

Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said: "The chancellor has a welcome track record of giving education and schools priority in his budget statements.

"We all want high quality schools and the best system of education. Funding levels are critical in securing this.

"Early reports suggest he will be focusing on upgrading the building stock.

"This is an important priority as many school buildings and resources, despite recent programmes of government expenditure, are still below standard.

"The injection of additional funds must however have no strings attached.

"Reports that in some circumstances existing monies are being released only on the basis of local authorities committing to establishing academies are disturbing and counterproductive.

"The chancellor should also focus his attention on ensuring that any funding allocated results in fit-for-purpose facilities needed to meet the 14-19 education and skills challenge for the 21st century as set out in the Leitch review.

"The chancellor should also be mindful that when he allocates funding directly to schools for specific projects, the current funding mechanisms provide no guarantee that schools will spend it on the intended purpose.

"Financial windfalls benefit no one if they sit in schools' balances for a rainy day which never materialises.

"Whilst refurbishment and rebuild are crucial, the chancellor must ensure that future funding addresses the need for teachers and headteachers to receive salary levels in the forthcoming pay round which recruit, retain and motivate. 

"The significant improvements in pay levels achieved in recent years must be enhanced not eroded."

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