Menu Menu * * Digital & Media Products * Now Live multimedia updates direct to your newsroom * Ready Rich, ready-to-publish content across nine core channels * Newswire Our agenda-setting newswire, showcasing all PA’s work * Pages A comprehensive, high-quality print production service * Video Engaging, high quality video across diverse strands * Pawa TV metadata solutions for channels and platforms * Editorial categories * News * Sport * Entertainment * Finance * Lifestyle * Real Life * Uplifting * Motoring * Sci-tech * Royals * Data categories * TV Listings * Event Listings * Elections Data * Sport Data * PA Mediapoint * ![\\"\\"](\\" Mediapoint Packages Connect communications professionals and the news media * ![\\"\\"](\\" Press Release Distribution Increase the coverage of your press release * ![\\"\\"](\\" Press Centres Connect your visual content with the media * ![\\"\\"](\\" Media Training Specialist media training for spokespeople and PR teams * ![\\"\\"](\\" Assignments Photography and video to connect brands and audiences * ![\\"\\"](\\" PA Meets Virtual events for the PR & comms sector * ![\\"\\"](\\" Briefings Keeping you abreast of industry news that matters * Betting Betting * Digital Content Solutions Multimedia bespoke content designed to captivate betting audiences * Bet Data & Editorial Extensive data & content to support betting products * BRAG Daily e-mail report on latest betting industry news * TV Metadata * About us * Contact us Contact us Site search * Digital & Media * PA Mediapoint * Betting * TV Metadata * About us * Products * Now Live multimedia updates direct to your newsroom * Ready Rich, ready-to-publish content across nine core channels * Newswire Our agenda-setting newswire, showcasing all PA’s work * Pages A comprehensive, high-quality print production service * Video Engaging, high quality video across diverse strands * Pawa TV metadata solutions for channels and platforms * Editorial categories From breaking news stories, to Sport, Ents and Real Life * News * Sport * Entertainment * Finance * Lifestyle * Real Life * Uplifting * Motoring * Sci-tech * Royals * Data categories From live sports data to TV, arts and events listings * TV Listings * Event Listings * Elections Data * Sport Data * * ![\\"\\"](\\" Mediapoint Packages Connect communications professionals and the news media * ![\\"\\"](\\" Press Release Distribution Increase the coverage of your press release * ![\\"\\"](\\" Press Centres Connect your visual content with the media * ![\\"\\"](\\" Media Training Specialist media training for spokespeople and PR teams * ![\\"\\"](\\" Assignments Photography and video to connect brands and audiences * ![\\"\\"](\\" PA Meets Virtual events for the PR & comms sector * ![\\"\\"](\\" Briefings Keeping you abreast of industry news that matters * Betting * Digital Content Solutions Multimedia bespoke content designed to captivate betting audiences * Bet Data & Editorial Extensive data & content to support betting products * BRAG Daily e-mail report on latest betting industry news ![\\"\\"](\\" Real-term spending per pupil declined by about 9% between 2009-2010 and 2019-2020 (Danny Lawson/PA) # Real-term spending per pupil is expected to hit record high in 2024-5 By Joseph Draper, PA 15:26 - May 26, 2023 As teachers across England and Wales strike over pay, an MP claimed the Government has committed to the “highest real-term spending on schools in history” for the year 2023-2024. Scott Benton, the independent MP for Blackpool South, praised a Government plan announced last autumn to increase total funding by £2 billion, bringing the total to £57.3 billion for 2023/24. He said: “I welcome £1,950,016 in extra funding for schools in Blackpool South from the Government, as part of £2 billion in extra school funding this year and next across England – the highest real terms spending on schools in history.” ## Evaluation: Missing context In cash terms – without taking into account spending per pupil – school spending for 2023-2024 is £57.3 billion, an increase of 64% compared to the £35.0 billion allocated in 2010. But the Government’s spending announcement came after more than a decade of cuts to school spending in England when adjusted for inflation – this is what is meant by “real term spending”. According to think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent economics research institute, real-term spending per pupil declined by about 9%, from £7,260 to £6,640, between 2009-2010 and 2019-2020 and is not expected to recover until 2024/25. Luke Sibieta, research fellow at the IFS and author of its annual report on education spending, told the PA news agency that spending per pupil – adjusted for inflation – is the most accurate measure of resources available to schools as it takes into account increases in the number of pupils over that period. ## The facts After the Government’s spending commitment last autumn, spending per pupil in 2023-24 is expected to reach – but not surpass – levels last seen in 2009-10 (£7,260). As complete figures for spending per pupil only reach back to 2003-2004, the year 2010 can said to have been the highest in recorded history. Spending per pupil is not expected to surpass that peak until 2024/25, when it will be around 3% higher than in 2010. Looking at total expenditure adjusted for inflation – without taking into account spending per pupil – school spending for 2023-2024 is £57.3 billion, an increase of 64% compared to the £35.0 billion allocated in 2010. But Luke Sibieta, research fellow at the IFS, explained: “Spending per pupil is a better measure of the generosity of spending and the level of resources available to pupils over time. “On this measure, spending per pupil is still below 2010 levels (its most recent high-point), but will get back there by 2024. “According to our research, spending per pupil has been recovering following a period of cuts since 2010. “We forecast that spending per pupil in 2024 will be about 1-2% higher than in 2010. In 2022-23, it was still about 1-2% lower than in 2010.” Mr Benton has been contacted for comment. ## Links Union’s FAQ on NEU strike action (archived) Claim on Twitter (archived) Government spending on education (archived) Government school funding statistics, 2022-23 (archived) What is the Institute for Fiscal Studies? (archived) IFS annual report on education spending in England 2022 (archived) Luke Sibieta profile (archived) ## About PA’s fact checks If you have any suggestions for future fact checks, objections or comments, please send them to factcheck@pamediagroup.com, including any relevant links. 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The Government has committed to the highest realterm spending on schools in history for the year 20232024