Chancellor’s pre-budget report

6 December 2006

Commenting on the announcement of a significant increase in spending on schools by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Britain’s biggest teachers’ organisation, 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."