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Autumn Budget 2024: A step forward, but is it enough for North East schools?

This year’s Autumn Budget marked a significant moment for the new government, coming just four months after Schools North East issued its Manifesto for North East Education. We called on policymakers to address the long-standing structural issues impacting educational outcomes in the North East—a region that’s felt the brunt of underfunding and systemic challenges for years.

While there are promising elements in this first budget from the new administration, critical voices across the education sector question whether it truly meets the needs of our schools. With an all-department review and additional budget expected in the spring, there is hope, but also a call for greater ambition.

Budget highlights: Steps in the right direction

There are positive moves in the budget, including:

– Increased Education Funding: A 3.5% real-term increase in education funding, with the core school budget boosted by £2.3 billion by 2025/26.

– Expanded School Rebuilding Program: £550 million added, bringing the total to £1.4 billion—vital given recent structural concerns like RAAC.

– Support for SEND and Early Years: An additional £1 billion for SEND services and £1.8 billion for government-funded childcare are welcome commitments. The introduction of free breakfast clubs in primary schools, backed by £30 million, is another positive step, aligning with our own recommendations for early years and family support.

These investments are undoubtedly positive, especially in areas critical to our region. However, Schools North East and other education sector leaders remain clear: these are only initial steps. Much more is needed to bridge what could otherwise become a deepening “disadvantage chasm”.

Missed opportunities and calls for greater commitment

Despite these gains, leading voices in the sector have highlighted significant gaps.  Paul Whiteman*, General Secretary of NAHT, noted that while this budget shows “good intentions,” it’s crucial that the spring budget brings a more sustained commitment to reversing the effects of years of underfunding.  The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) emphasised that while the capital funding increase is essential, areas like post-16 education and workforce support remain severely underfunded. ASCL’s Julia Harnden observed that the free breakfast initiative, while helpful, is a small fraction of what’s actually needed.

In the North East, where we see some of the highest rates of free school meal eligibility, schools need not just immediate relief but a comprehensive approach to rebuilding and strengthening our educational system.

Long-term investment: The only path forward

Education spending has seen drastic reductions over the past decade, with a near 9% real-term drop in per-pupil spending from 2009 to 2019.  Former Education Recovery Commissioner Sir Kevan Collins previously called for £15 billion to help students recover from the pandemic—a level of investment that is yet to be matched.

For our schools to truly thrive, this budget must be a starting point, not the solution. Only with sustained, targeted funding can we address the significant challenges facing North East schools and ensure lasting change.

As Leora Cruddas*, CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts, stated: “Today’s increase in capital funding is a small step toward addressing years of underinvestment in school infrastructure, but much more remains to be done.”

While there is optimism in the education community, the call for bold, lasting investment remains as strong as ever. North East schools, leaders, and communities look to the government to build on these initial steps and make a true commitment to our education system in the months to come.

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Your feedback is crucial in helping us understand the diverse perspectives within our network and shaping how we respond to developments.

If you haven’t yet filled out the latest Schools North East’s ‘State of the Region’ survey, we strongly encourage you to do so. These surveys intend to monitor the situation in schools across academic years, and are vital in helping us provide a strategic voice for our members and lead the change our schools need to see.

Please help us ensure that the voice of North East schools is heard by policymakers by completing the survey — it will take only 5 minutes of your time.

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Keynote Speaker: Leora Cruddas*
New Domains of Educational Leadership: Embracing a “Lead, not Plead” Mindset

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, leaders today face complex challenges that demand resilience, vision, and innovative solutions. This keynote invites us to consider how trust leaders can embody the conference theme of Lead, not plead, by harnessing the mental models and mindsets that fuel transformative leadership.

Leora will explore three crucial domains of educational leadership during her keynote. This session will be a call to action, challenging educational leaders to transcend traditional roles, confront obstacles head-on, and create lasting change. Join Leora to explore new ways to lead with purpose, using Leora’s insights and expertise to fuel your journey as a transformative leader.

Paul Whiteman*, General Secretary of NAHT, will also speak at the conference. More information to follow.

Book Academies Conference 2025 here.

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