Pupil attainment ‘unaffected’ by school cuts

Education funding has not kept pace with rising costs, but Ofsted says there is no evidence of lower standards

SCHOOL funding cuts have not affected attainment, Ofsted has said.

A report by the schools watchdog found that while funding for education has not kept pace with rising costs, there is “no evidence of falling attainment”. The report, titled “Making the cut: how schools respond when they are under financial pressure”, analyses the impact of school-funding levels on children’s education.

Researchers found that while perpupil school spending has reduced by 8 per cent in real terms since 2010, it is still 14 per cent higher in real terms than it was in 2003–04.

The inspectorate said that some schools are facing “significant financial pressure”, partly due to a cut in funding from local authority budgets. It also notes how, since 2015, schools have come under increasing financial pressures including staff pay rises, increased National Insurance and pension contributions, and the apprenticeship levy.

However, despite rising costs and tighter budgets, standards have “not declined” in Year Six Sats, nor have they in GCSES, Ofsted found.

Researchers looked at Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) test scores for English 15-yearolds and found that they have “not changed significantly” in reading and science, and have “significantly increased” for mathematics since 2015. The most recent round of Pisa tests, which are administered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, were taken by 79 developed countries.

In 2019, the UK came 18th in maths, up from 27th three years previously. Within the UK, the average score for maths among English pupils was “significantly higher” than scores for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The report notes that Ofsted assessments have also improved, with the proportion of schools that are good or outstanding increasing between 2010 and 2019.

In a commentary to the report, Ofsted’s chief inspector warned that a £14 billion boost in education spending due to be outlined in next month’s Budget risks being “squandered” by poorly managed schools. Amanda Spielman said there was “clearly” room for improvement in school budgeting, and that bad financial decisions can be a waste of taxpayer funds as well as being “harmful” to children’s education.

Her comments come ahead of the Spring Budget, in which Boris Johnson is expected to restate his pledge to give schools a cash injection of an extra £14billion over three years.

Head teachers responded furiously last night, demanding that she must either apologise or resign.

Jules White, head of Tanbridge House School in Horsham, West Sussex, said that head teachers are “incensed” by Ms Spielman’s comments.

Mr White, who co-ordinates a group that campaigns against funding cuts, said her remarks were “utterly disgraceful” and that she should either resign or make an “unreserved apology”.