The Chancellor George Osborne has announced that the education budget will rise over the next four years in today's controversial Comprehensive Spending Review. The schools budget would be increased from £35 billion to £39 billion, although some have suggested that with inflation this ultimately represents a cut in the education budget. Mr. Osborne affirms, however, that this signifies an increase in funding in real terms for schools in each of the next four years.

The review also said that more freedom would be given to schools to spend their own budgets and that £15.8 billion would be spent to on maintaining school estates and over 600 schools will be rebuilt of refurbished following the cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Julian Stanley, Chief Executive of Teacher Support Network said:

"It is easy to assume that as teachers have good conditions of service, they are somehow immune to the effects of economic turbulence and budget reductions. This is not the case.

We know from the marked rise in money related use of our support services between May and September this year compared to the same period last year that teachers are already concerned about their financial situation. We know from the grants that we give young teachers and families, who have lost income through redundancy and incapacity to pay priority bills like council tax, that the current situation poses real risks to teachers' sense of security, wellbeing and efficacy.

It is vital that deficit-reductions don't damage the next generation. Too many teachers have already been hindered by money worries in recent years, and this can threaten the quality of education pupils receive.

As the only charity providing support to teachers and lecturers, we are uniquely placed to offer help to those in need, but we urge schools, local authorities and national governments to help us ensure that every teacher is given the resources and support they need to delivery the best possible education to our future workforce."

The following are the key announcements that may affect you:

Schools

• Schools budget will rise from £35 billion to £39 billion.
• Spending per pupils will not fall.
• Ringfencing on school budgets will be stopped. Schools will decide how to best spend their budgets.
• 5 education quangos will go
• £15.8 billion will be spent on maintaining school estates
• over 600 schools will be refurbished or rebuilt
• £2.5 billion to be provided for pupil premiums
• SEN budgets will be expanded

Post 16 education

• Adult learners will have to contribute more to pay for education
• Better off graduates will have to pay more.
• The science budget will be protected.

Personal

• The child element of the child tax credit would be increased: £180 per year in 2011/12 and £110 in 2013/14
• No further changes to child benefit other than removal of the highest earners
• State pension age to rise to 66 for men and women by 2020
• TV License fee frozen for 6 years
• Free entry to museums and galleries
• Temporary increases in cold weather payments to be made permanent
• Councils will be given control over council tax

Scotland / Wales

• Spending on education and health would be reflected in Barnett consequentials

To read the review in more detail, click here.

If you are concerned about how the Comprehensive Spending Review may affect you, read our new factsheet:

• Comprehensive Spending Review
• Discuss this in our forum