Industry News
Private school funding still well ahead
Posted on 30th January 2008
The government is making little progress towards its target of bringing funding in state schools up to the levels enjoyed in private schools, it has emerged.
Gordon Brown, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and National Union of Teachers general secretary Steve Sinnott have all identified bringing per pupil funding into line with that in independent schools as the key to raising standards in maintained schools.
However, a written answer from schools minister Jim Knight to a Commons question suggests that funding is unlikely to move on to an equal footing in the foreseeable future, reports the Daily Mail.
Mr Knight revealed that per pupil funding in state schools would rise to £6,600 a year by 2010-11 and that financial plans beyond that point are dependent on factors such as the government's fiscal position and demographic change.
Private schools already spend an average of £8,000 a year on each pupil and the Conservatives estimate that will climb to £10,200 by 2010-11.