Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 10 October 2018, Official Report, column 133, what the evidential basis was for the Prime Minister's statement that per pupil funding is being protected in real terms.

As set out by the Prime Minister, funding for 5-16 years olds is being protected in real terms per pupil from 2017-18 to 2019-20. Core funding for schools and high needs is rising from almost £41 billion in 2017-18 to £43.5 billion in 2019-20, representing an increase of 6.3%. Pupil numbers are projected to rise by 3.0% over the same period, meaning per pupil funding will rise by 3.2%. The GDP deflator over this period is 3.1%, therefore demonstrating a real terms per pupil protection. Using their own methodology, the Institute for Fiscal Studies have also confirmed that funding will be protected in real terms across this year and the next.

Sources:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/723730/2018Release_Projections_Tables.xlsx

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/744692/Copy_of_GDP_Deflators_Qtrly_National_Accounts_September_2018_update__002_.xlsx

https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/publications/comms/R150.pdf