‘On
current pupil number forecasts, there will be a real-terms increase in the
schools budget in the next Parliament.’ Let’s be fair: this is being very clear
that the budget is only going to increase because there’ll be more children.
They’re not selling this as an increase without letting us know that it’s not
really. So although there’s not much here, I respect this policy as well-worded
and honest.
There is, however, more to their education funding than
this. Free school meals for all infants makes perfect sense. It’s a good,
healthy policy that will help with efficiency and prevent pointless paperwork.
But then there is ‘We will not allow state schools to make a profit’. I
know what they mean here: they mean that schools which are well-managed and try
to run surpluses, perhaps to save up for much-needed investment, will have that
money taken from them. It means that instead of empowered head-teachers and
local and flexible planning there will be money wasted as heads spend their
money wherever they can, no matter the priority, because they know it’ll be
taken away if they save it. This is coming from a government keen on localism.
Overall, let’s say it’s mostly alright, and we’ll accept
this as reasonable.
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