A £1.4 billion package to rebuild crumbling schools has been announced by the Labour government days before its first Budget. But unions are warning the cash will not be enough to restore buildings to a 'satisfactory condition' across the country.
The scheme seeks to carry out construction projects at a rate of about 50 a year. According to the National Audit Office, the government last year forecast it would complete fewer projects than initially planned. Labour’s manifesto committed to spending £315 million on breakfast clubs by 2028–29. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the funding would help 'put education back at the forefront of national life'.
She told the PA news agency: “Putting £1.4 billion into the school rebuilding programme next year will be enough to keep what was always intended as a 10-year programme going in its sixth year. £1.8 billion for the rollout of new childcare entitlements similarly confirms plans set out under the previous government.
Head of the National Education Union Daniel Kebede said the money was a 'first step but more is needed', while NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman urged ministers to commit to a 'major' rebuilding programme next year. “There remains a significant shortfall in terms of what is needed to restore the school estate to a satisfactory condition,” he said.
The measures would include upgrading the office’s app to allow people to make voluntary self-assessment payments in instalments and seeking to increase the answer rate of phone calls to the department, the paper reported. Ms Reeves has also called on Government departments to make efficiency savings of two per cent - freeing up 'billions' of pounds that would be reinvested in the front line, according to the Sunday Times.