Devon's schools set to receive a £15.3 million cut to spending power

Schools in Devon are set to be hit with a £15.3 million cut to spending power in 2024/25 data from the National Education Union (NEU) reveals.

It means funding per pupil in Devon will be cut by £166 in 2024/25 compared with 2023/24. 

There are 351 schools in Devon. 283 of which will have less spending power in 2024/25 as a result of these funding cuts.

For Primary schools in Devon, there will be a £138 reduction in spending power per pupil over the next financial year, and in Secondary schools there will be a £217 fall in spending power per pupil.

Devon's Liberal Democrats have warned the fall in spending power will push already stretched school budgets to the brink, with a worse educational experience for pupils and worse outcomes.

It comes as new data released today shows that this Conservative Government has cut the annual growth in funding in cash terms from 8% in 2023/4 to 3.1% in 2024/5.

The Lib Dems are calling for the Government to review school funding after the IFS has concluded that the purchasing power of school budgets in 2024 will still be about 4% lower than in 2010.

The Leader of North Devon Council and Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for North Devon, Ian Roome said: "This Conservative government has failed Devon's children. Parents in our community should not have to send their children to schools which have had their funding decimated by a Conservative government that has lost interest in providing high-quality education.

"Investing in education is investing in our future but this Conservative government has let school buildings crumble and overseen a severe shortage of teachers. Far from preparing the next generation for the future, Ministers have totally abandoned them.

"The Liberal Democrats know that investment in education boosts our children's futures. The Treasury needs to urgently look at increasing school funding".