Commenting on a new report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which shows that the government’s recent changes to school funding have hit deprived areas the hardest, Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“This report paints a pretty bleak picture of the government’s policies when it comes to supporting some of the most vulnerable children in our education system.

“Over the last few years, we have seen a new funding formula that directs money away from the most disadvantaged, a pupil premium policy change that has led to the some of the poorest families not receiving funding they should have been entitled to, and a failure to deliver on long overdue SEND reforms. In light of all that, talk of ‘levelling up’ starts to sound rather hollow.

“If the government is to achieve their stated goal of ‘levelling up’, they need to look carefully at the impact their reforms are having.

“Schools’ success in helping children to recover from the impact of the pandemic depends on the funding and resources they are given by government. Those who need the most help, need to receive the most funding.

“Next week’s Spending Review is a moment of truth for this government. The priority they give education and support for deprived families will reveal clearly whether their rhetoric has any substance.”