COVER STORY
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Schools welcome new spending but universities are left with unanswered questions
ussell Tilsed – Senior Director of Public Services at 8x8, shares his thoughts on the 2021 Autumn budget, what it means for education, and how universities can stay top of the class. In his Autumn budget statement, Rishi Sunak declared that he would bring spending on education, in
4 | Winter 2021 | CAMPUS
real terms, back to 2010 levels – promising an extra £4.7 billion for schools by 2024/5. While this cash boost will certainly be welcome in schools across the UK, it’s worth remembering that in effect, it is only undoing past cuts. The fact that the extra cash equates to £1,500 per pupil serves to illustrate how far spending had fallen behind.
As Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “This still represents no growth in school funding for 15 years… school and college budgets are very thinly stretched, and the financial situation continues to be extremely difficult.” The increase in spending for schools will be accompanied by an
