IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”

A new report today reveals education spending will be slashed by more than 13 per cent over this parliament – the largest cut since at least the fifties.

Danny-Alexander-George-Osborne-savage-education-cuts Contrasting the cuts ahead with Labour’s record investment in education, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says:

Public spending on education in the UK grew rapidly during the 2000s. Over the decade between 1999–2000 and 2009–10, it grew by 5.1% per year in real terms, the fastest growth over any decade since the mid-1970s.

As a result, it rose from 4.5% of national income in 1999–2000 to reach a high point of 6.4% in 2009–10. Going forwards, we estimate that public spending on education in the UK will fall by 3.5% per year in real terms between 2010–11 and 2014–15. [See Table 1]

This would represent the largest cut in education spending over any four-year period since at least the 1950s, and would return education spending as a share of national income back to 4.6% by 2014–15.

Table 1:

Increases-in-UK-education-spending-April-1956-March-2015
This morning’s IFS analysis also finds:

As with most areas of government spending, education spending is set to shrink in real terms over the Spending Review period… [Estimated] total public spending on education in the UK will fall by over 13% in real terms between 2010-11 and 2014-15. This represents the largest cut in education spending over any four-year period since at least the 1950s. [See Graph 1]

The cuts will be deepest for capital spending and higher education, followed by 16-19 education and early years provision. Schools spending is relatively protected, and schools with the most deprived intakes are likely to see real-terms increases in funding. However, the majority of schools will see real-terms cuts.

Graph 1:

UK-education-spending-1955-1956-2014-2015-actual-and-forecast
The IFS concludes:

Having risen by historically large amounts during the 2000s, the UK’s education budget is now set for an historically large fall over the next few years.

Schools will see smaller real-terms cuts than other areas of education spending, while cuts to public spending on higher education will be more than offset by higher tuition fees. The biggest challenges lie ahead for the early years, youth services and 16-19 education, where spending is set to fall by around 20% in real terms.

Of course the key question is what these cuts in financial resources will mean for the outputs of the education system, such as young people’s exam results or earnings potential.

Indeed. The dire consequences of the government’s savage education cuts will not be fully felt for years; the futures stolen, ambitions thwarted, lives ruined, will only become truly apparent once the damage has been wrought, the horrors irreversible.

See also:

• Gove’s three priorities? Gove, Gove, Gove – Alex Hern, October 4th 2011

• Fees, cuts… Is this what Cameron means by “giving young people back their future”? – Shamik Das, September 14th 2011

• IFS questions Osborne’s “short sighted” failure to invest in science and skills – Shamik Das, September 5th 2011

• Priced out of the playground: Tory Wandsworth to charge kids to play – Shamik Das, May 12th 2011

• Toby Young is wrong about the cuts and wrong about the march – Nicola Smith, March 29th 2011

http://twitter.com/sharpteach/status/128610507333709824 sharpteach

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: http://t.co/X1HIHBNm by @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/sharpteach/status/128610507333709824 sharpteach

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: http://t.co/X1HIHBNm by @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/politicalplanet/status/128617764091998208 Political Planet

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: A new report today reveals edu… http://t.co/OhrUHXWJ
http://twitter.com/politicalplanet/status/128617764091998208 Political Planet

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: A new report today reveals edu… http://t.co/OhrUHXWJ
http://twitter.com/christhegoth/status/128684802445557760 Christian Wilcox

More on Tory education cuts: http://t.co/hwC6vOZ8 . We need skills in a recession, so why Adult Ed & #HE? It seems daft. #Croydon #Labour
http://twitter.com/christhegoth/status/128684802445557760 Christian Wilcox

More on Tory education cuts: http://t.co/hwC6vOZ8 . We need skills in a recession, so why Adult Ed & #HE? It seems daft. #Croydon #Labour
http://twitter.com/croydonfeed/status/128685454777257984 Croydon feed

More on Tory education cuts: http://t.co/YzEUM59L . We need skills in a recession, so why Adult Ed & #HE? It see… http://t.co/15CB1jz1
http://twitter.com/adreamofhoney/status/128717677899415553 -

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: http://t.co/X1HIHBNm by @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/jimpknight/status/128723106696142848 Jim Knight

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/martinhume/status/128723705504333824 martinhume

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/martinhume/status/128723705504333824 martinhume

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/true_belle/status/128723949088550912 True_Belle

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/true_belle/status/128723949088550912 True_Belle

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/michaelpayneuk/status/128725447704981504 Michael Payne

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/michaelpayneuk/status/128725447704981504 Michael Payne

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/128726047054237699 Michael

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s” – http://t.co/oAoMGAen
http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/128726047054237699 Michael

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s” – http://t.co/oAoMGAen
http://twitter.com/cuchulaindundee/status/128727642768818176 cuchulaindundee

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s” http://t.co/mgapfzXv
http://twitter.com/bobharrisonset/status/128728858462650368 Bob Harrison

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/liverbirdseven/status/128730317686190080 LiverBird

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: http://t.co/X1HIHBNm by @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/martinlittler/status/128735548419485696 Martin Littler

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/vernon_coakermp/status/128736590146179072 vernon4gedling

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/sirianblair/status/128737025665925120 sirianblair

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/strats118/status/128737391111442432 strats118

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/rslabour/status/128738058030952448 Rochester/Strood CLP

IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: http://t.co/X1HIHBNm by @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/theiancruise/status/128738420645298176 Ian Cruise

"@leftfootfwd: IFS:Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: http://t.co/Am8TAOJ1 'Headteachers take note
http://twitter.com/cityalan/status/128739832305434625 Alan Simpson

Progressive? “@leftfootfwd: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s”: http://t.co/rD3nyDMB by @ShamikDas”
http://twitter.com/woolfiesmith/status/128745058160746496 Citizen K

IFS show education set to shrink in real terms – Tories break promise of future to next generation on jobs, EMA etc http://t.co/jAjfb9LJ
http://twitter.com/labour52rose/status/128749008620503042 Alex Braithwaite

RT @leftfootfwd: IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s” http://t.co/aNmLItns
http://twitter.com/ashleyharnett/status/128762852675829760 Ashley Harnett

RT @leftfootfwd: IFS: Education spending will “shrink” at fastest rate “since at least the 1950s” http://t.co/goy740FB
Rob the crip

Opposition you can do as you like because you do not have to sort out the mess, no of course labour did not leave us in a mess Gordon was a hero flying from phone box to phone box saving the banks the same banks who now need more billions, the money tree had a bad drought this year.
http://twitter.com/adamlangleben/status/128804742167150592 Adam Langleben

RT @leftfootfwd: IFS: Education http://t.co/Y1DI2yvF
Leon Wolfson

And remember, kids, that keeping your job as a teacher under the Tories means exam results and only exam results. Teaching to the test will rise very sharply again, and employers will need to even more teaching of basic actual skills!

(And universities waste even more time imparting them…at huge cost to the kids!)
http://www.stephenwigmore.blogspot.com Stephen W

It’s almost as though there were a huge deficit . . . .

But what’s this?

“Schools will see smaller real-terms cuts than other areas of education spending, while cuts to public spending on higher education will be more than offset by higher tuition fees.”

So Schools will see little cuts, and schools in the most disadvantaged areas will see their funding increase, and universities will also see their funding increase.

But surely . .

“The dire consequences of the government’s savage education cuts will not be fully felt for years; the futures stolen, ambitions thwarted, lives ruined, will only become truly apparent once the damage has been wrought, the horrors irreversible.”

. . .

No, not it won’t. And you know it, camply, melodramatic writing to one side. Please stop embarrassing yourselves with the mock concern and (years in advance) shroud waving.
Shamik Das

Dear Stephen, there is no ‘mock concern’ here, our fear for the future is genuine.
http://www.stephenwigmore.blogspot.com Stephen W

Shame it’s not grounded in reality. I suppose tabloidesque melodrama is more exciting to write. This stuff reads like the online branch of the Daily Mirror.

Shame, this used to be an intelligent website.
Leon Wolfson

@3 – No, Universities have seen a *massive* fall in funding in the last year.

Keep on lying, Tory.
http://www.stephenwigmore.blogspot.com Stephen W

Are you nuts or just trolling? Or have you actually bothered to read the article?

In case you’ve missed it, that section was a quote from the article.

Now I do not know who wrote this article but I doubt they are a Tory. Idiot.
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/look-left-%e2%80%93-cameron%e2%80%99s-euroscepticism-comes-home-to-roost/ Look Left – Cameron’s Euroscepticism comes home to roost | Left Foot Forward

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