A full breakdown of current schools funding and the outlook for the next five years

The last quarter of 2010 offered some improvement for those working in the education sector (see graph below). Research from Barbour ABI shows that contract awards were up more than 25% on the previous quarter, although at a total of 拢2.4bn the workload remained at a relatively low level.

State secondary schools accounted for the biggest proportion of work 鈥 41% - as schemes that survived the cull of the 好色先生TV Schools for the Future programme continued to progress. (See table at bottom of page).

Education contracts awarded graph

The outlook

The government鈥檚 capital spending on education will decrease steadily from this April, with settlements reached in the Comprehensive Spending Review showing a drop of around 60% from 2010-11 levels by 2014-15. The funding settlements agreed are:

  • 2010-11: 拢7.6bn
  • 2011-12: 拢4.9bn
  • 2012-13:&苍产蝉辫;拢4.2产苍
  • 2013-14: 拢3.3bn
  • 2014-15:&苍产蝉辫;拢3.4产苍

Of the funds available for 2011-12, 拢2.1bn has already been divided up between local authorities to spend on maintenance and the creation of new school places. Funding pots were 拢1.3bn and 拢800m respectively, although local authorities are able to switch funding between the two areas if they wish.

The remaining 拢2.8bn will be used to fund BSF projects and academies that have already been told they can proceed, together with sixth forms and new free schools. This includes some of the 拢800m pipeline of academies which were granted approval earlier this year after being put on hold, with the schemes set to be phased over the next two years.

The government has said that it expects the total levels of maintenance funding and 鈥渂asic need鈥 鈥 ie money allocated to meet demand for extra school places 鈥 to remain broadly flat during the spending review period.

This means that the total money available for larger refurbishment projects or new build will fall to around 拢1.2bn in 2013-14 鈥 so below half current levels.

The methods for prioritising schools funding will be outlined in the Sebastian James review findings, but criteria will be based much more around building condition than before.

And as the cuts hit home, the balance of work is likely to shift towards primary schools, which 鈥 as well as being smaller, cheaper projects - the government has made a priority for funding due to the pressure on primary school places.

 

Education contracts awarded by type Oct-Dec 2010

RegionNurseriesState PrimaryState SecondaryPrivate Schools/ CollegesColleges/ UniversitiesSpecial SchoolsTotal Value% of Value
SE & London拢8,100,000拢112,517,500拢317,500,000拢11,200,000拢191,150,000拢29,317,500拢669,785,00028%
Northern England拢600,000拢80,820,000拢261,747,500拢18,550,000拢113,360,000拢12,000,000拢487,077,50021%
South West & Wales拢2,350,000拢391,375,000拢107,825,000拢41,340,000拢92,100,000拢11,700,000拢646,690,00027%
Midlands & East Anglia拢3,900,000拢80,491,245拢220,300,000拢8,500,000拢138,600,000拢11,550,000拢463,341,24520%
Scotland拢750,000拢30,210,000拢68,395,000拢0拢5,500,000拢210,000拢105,065,0004%
Total拢15,700,000拢695,413,745拢975,767,500拢79,590,000拢540,710,000拢64,777,500拢2,371,958,745
% of Total1%29%41%3%23%3%

Following the government鈥檚 response to the James Review. The 60 page report includes analysis of proposed procurement, design and regulatory changes as well as local authorities with the biggest shortage of school places and much more