The Autumn Budget 2024 outlined significant investments in education, marking a positive step for the sector. Schools received a £2.3 billion boost to core budgets, with £1 billion targeting Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision, and £300 million allocated to the historically underfunded Further Education (FE) sector.
Capital spending saw a notable increase, including £1.4 billion for the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP), which addresses critical infrastructure needs. Despite this, challenges remain—38% of school buildings exceed their design life, and questions linger about schools excluded from the SRP. Maintenance funding also rose to £2.1 billion, up by £300 million, but the ageing school estate requires further strategic investment.
The FE sector received £950 million in skills capital, essential after years of limited support. Additionally, a £15 million School-Based Nursery Capital Grant was introduced, a foundational step toward creating 3,000 new nurseries.
However, decarbonisation remains a key gap, with insufficient support to meet public sector emissions targets. While these investments are encouraging, long-term reform and further funding are crucial to sustain improvements across the school and FE estates.
Read our full analysis here: Explore more. For tailored advice, contact us at 0116 5070130 or enquire@s2e.org.uk.
Surveyors to Education
