“We welcome the small real-terms increase in the core schools budget that has been announced today. However, schools are already having to make significant cuts and the spending review announcements will not change that situation in the short-term and won't be enough to reverse this situation in the longer term either.
“This additional funding does not include colleges and sixth forms and we are particularly worried about the financial sustainability of this vital sector. We look forward to seeing the government’s strategy for post-16 education and skills later in the year. This sector is terribly underfunded and this must be addressed if sixth forms and colleges are to play a central role in this strategy.
“The capital funding commitment is welcome as far as it goes, but it will not be enough to make significant inroads into the huge backlog of repairs and maintenance across the school and college estate because of many years of underfunding.
“There is also a major challenge in terms of reforming the SEND system to ensure it is sustainable in the future and delivers the support that children and young people need. The government will need to ensure there is sufficient funding in place to deliver these reforms.
“We recognise that the national finances are tight but this spending review doesn't go nearly far enough and we really need the government to treat education as a vital strategic investment.”