16 March 2005
Education spending will rise to £12 billion next year, to help Britain keep up with the growing economies of China and India.
Chancellor Gordon Brown announced the increase in his Budget speech. He said:
"It is because education is the twenty first century road to prosperity that Britain must become the best educated, best trained, best skilled country in the world.
"Unleashing the potential of every individual in our country is going to be the key to economic success."
With the increased funding, spending per school child is set to rise to £1,000 per pupil by 2010, ten times that of 1997, according to Mr Brown.
Extra funds will be made available to improve school buildings and facilities.
A total of £9.4 billion will be invested over the next five years in primary schools alone, allowing over 8,900 primary schools to be rebuilt or refurbished. Further education colleges will also benefit from a £1.5 billion renovation programme.
Take-up of information technology in schools will increase through investment of £1.67 billion over three years. A low-cost leasing scheme will allow children access to computers at home.
Individual schools will benefit from increased direct payments, set to rise in primary schools to £31,000 this year, and £98,000 for secondary schools, Mr Brown said.
The Government plans to encourage seventeen-year-olds to stay on at school or take vocational training, through a new scheme offering up to £75 a week in education maintenance allowances and children’s benefits.
And high-quality graduates will be encouraged to go into teaching through the extension of the Teach First incentive programme to four new cities including Liverpool and Birmingham.
Our other Budget 2005 stories
- Chancellor to choose the ‘prudent course’ for Britain
- Red tape for business slashed
- Economy ‘continuing to grow strongly’
Extra information
The Budget statement in recent years has been followed by a general debate lasting about four days.
Forming the basis of the Chancellor’s statement are the resolutions for the continuance of income tax and corporation tax - as well as the imposition of any new duties or necessary increases in permanent duties.
It is upon these, and any other necessary resolutions, that the subsequent Finance Bill is founded.
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