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Cash for new grammar schools in £320m Budget plan Grammar schools: Budget includes cash for new free schools
(35 minutes later)
Extra money for new free schools and grammar schools in England will be announced by the Chancellor in his Budget on Wednesday. The chancellor is to announce extra money for new free schools and grammar schools in England in his Budget on Wednesday, as head teachers protest about a funding crisis.
Philip Hammond will confirm a one-off payment of £320m for 140 new free schools, on top of the 500 already pledged to be created by 2020.Philip Hammond will confirm a one-off payment of £320m for 140 new free schools, on top of the 500 already pledged to be created by 2020.
He will also promise £216m to rebuild and refurbish existing schools.He will also promise £216m to rebuild and refurbish existing schools.
But Labour's Angela Rayner says it still leaves schools facing £3bn in spending cuts. Labour's Angela Rayner said schools still faced £3bn in spending cuts.
The Chancellor's funding announcement could pave the way for a new generation of grammar schools. The chancellor's funding announcement could pave the way for a new generation of grammar schools.
But it will not address the growing warnings from head teachers about a funding crisis in existing schools. Currently, all new schools are required to be free schools, but the government has been looking at lifting a ban on opening new grammars.
There have been warnings of four-day weeks and cuts in staffing and subjects - and the National Audit Office has warned of a 8% real-terms funding gap for schools up to 2020. This would mean some of the £320m investment could be used for new selective schools or to expand existing grammars.
However, Mr Hammond's announcement will not address the growing warnings from head teachers about a funding crisis in existing schools.
There have been warnings of four-day weeks and cuts in staffing and subjects - and the National Audit Office has warned of an 8% real-terms funding gap for schools up to 2020.
'Meritocracy''Meritocracy'
But, writing in the Daily Telegraph, Prime Minister Theresa May said her "personal mission" was to increase the diversity of England's school system.But, writing in the Daily Telegraph, Prime Minister Theresa May said her "personal mission" was to increase the diversity of England's school system.
"That means decisively shifting Britain's education system and building a great meritocracy so that children from ordinary working families are given the chances their richer contemporaries take for granted," she said."That means decisively shifting Britain's education system and building a great meritocracy so that children from ordinary working families are given the chances their richer contemporaries take for granted," she said.
The prime minister said the government would enable new selective free schools to be set up "so that the most academically gifted children get the specialist support to fulfil their potential, regardless of their family income or background".The prime minister said the government would enable new selective free schools to be set up "so that the most academically gifted children get the specialist support to fulfil their potential, regardless of their family income or background".
Analysis: Sean Coughlan, BBC News education correspondent Analysis
This funding promise sets a clear political direction of travel - making a priority of more free schools and opening the way to a new generation of grammar schools in England. By Sean Coughlan, BBC News education correspondent
But it offers nothing to the head teachers who have been complaining bitterly about a funding crisis in their basic budgets. This funding promise sets a clear political direction of travel - making a priority of more free schools and paving the way for a new generation of grammar schools.
A head teacher from West Sussex, where schools have been protesting against funding shortages, said the decision was "little short of disgraceful". But it offers nothing to head teachers complaining about a funding crisis in their basic budgets.
If nothing more is forthcoming from the chancellor it will see a number of Tory backbenchers raising eyebrows of alarm, as well as teachers' unions and local campaigns by parents. If nothing more is forthcoming from the chancellor, Tory backbenchers, teachers' unions and parents will be raising eyebrows of alarm.
The spending pledges also need to be seen in the context of the scale of the financial pressures.The spending pledges also need to be seen in the context of the scale of the financial pressures.
£216m has been promised to renovate schools - while the National Audit Office says that bringing schools up to standard would cost £6.7bn. The chancellor is promising £216m to renovate schools - while the National Audit Office says that bringing schools up to standard would cost £6.7bn.
The £320m announced to open new schools - free schools or grammars - is against a projected £3bn funding shortfall for existing schools. The £320m announced to open new schools is against a projected £3bn funding shortfall for existing schools.
But the government - balancing pressures from the NHS and social care - will repeat its line that school funding has been protected in a time when money is tight. But the government - balancing NHS and social care pressures - will repeat its line that school funding has been protected at a time when money is tight.
And that any extra cash should be used to improve quality and choice as well as the quantity of places available.
Grammar school head teachers have revealed their discussions with education ministers about how new selective schools could operate - such as providing centres of excellence for the top 10% of the ability range.Grammar school head teachers have revealed their discussions with education ministers about how new selective schools could operate - such as providing centres of excellence for the top 10% of the ability range.
This suggested that £150m would be available for short-term bids for expanding selection.This suggested that £150m would be available for short-term bids for expanding selection.
And Mrs May is promising to put out the details of the government's plans "in the coming weeks".And Mrs May is promising to put out the details of the government's plans "in the coming weeks".
All new schools are now required to be free schools - but if the ban on opening new grammar schools is lifted, it would mean some of the £320m investment set to be announced in the Budget could be used for new selective schools or to expand existing grammars.
The government has been looking at lifting the ban on opening new grammar schools.
'Funding crisis''Funding crisis'
General secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, Dr Mary Bousted, said teachers and heads in the existing state schools, who faced real-terms cuts, would be dismayed to see the chancellor prioritising free schools and grammars.General secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, Dr Mary Bousted, said teachers and heads in the existing state schools, who faced real-terms cuts, would be dismayed to see the chancellor prioritising free schools and grammars.
"These spending pledges are totally insufficient to tackle the schools funding crisis the government is inflicting on schools by forcing them to make over £3bn of savings by 2020," she said."These spending pledges are totally insufficient to tackle the schools funding crisis the government is inflicting on schools by forcing them to make over £3bn of savings by 2020," she said.
Head teachers' and teachers' unions and regional head teachers' organisations have been campaigning over funding shortages.Head teachers' and teachers' unions and regional head teachers' organisations have been campaigning over funding shortages.
They have warned that their budgets have not kept pace with rising costs.They have warned that their budgets have not kept pace with rising costs.
But ministers insist schools funding is at its highest level on record. Mr Hammond said the core schools budget stood at more than £40bn this year.But ministers insist schools funding is at its highest level on record. Mr Hammond said the core schools budget stood at more than £40bn this year.
The Budget will also see Mr Hammond pledge to ensure children from poor backgrounds are given an entitlement to have paid travel to selective schools.The Budget will also see Mr Hammond pledge to ensure children from poor backgrounds are given an entitlement to have paid travel to selective schools.
Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said she was "really quite disgusted" by the funding plans, saying it was a "drop in the ocean" compared with the scale of cuts.Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said she was "really quite disgusted" by the funding plans, saying it was a "drop in the ocean" compared with the scale of cuts.
Grammar plans were a "vanity project", she said.Grammar plans were a "vanity project", she said.
"People are concerned about being given an invoice of £30, £40 a week because schools can't afford to provide the teaching and excellence all children deserve."People are concerned about being given an invoice of £30, £40 a week because schools can't afford to provide the teaching and excellence all children deserve.
"This is not a meritocracy, this is an ideological attack on the working class people of this country and being able to get a decent education," she said."This is not a meritocracy, this is an ideological attack on the working class people of this country and being able to get a decent education," she said.
But the New Schools Network, which supports the opening of free schools, said the funding plans were an endorsement of the quality of free schools and their popularity with parents.But the New Schools Network, which supports the opening of free schools, said the funding plans were an endorsement of the quality of free schools and their popularity with parents.
They wanted the extra funding to see more free schools being opened in cities such as Birmingham and Manchester.They wanted the extra funding to see more free schools being opened in cities such as Birmingham and Manchester.
The Liberal Democrats' education spokesman John Pugh said it was "unbelievable" to focus money on more free schools when the "free schools programme was shown to have overspent to the tune of £9bn". Liberal Democrat education spokesman John Pugh said it was "unbelievable" to focus money on more free schools when the "free schools programme was shown to have overspent to the tune of £9bn".
"The Tories absolutely have their priorities wrong on education if they think this is the right way to spend money," said Mr Pugh."The Tories absolutely have their priorities wrong on education if they think this is the right way to spend money," said Mr Pugh.
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