Scotland’s per pupil spending highest in UK, study finds

Scotland has the highest spend per pupil in the UK, with 20 per cent more funding per pupil than England, according to a new study. 

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), an independent think tank, published a report on Friday which shows that the Scottish Government’s spending per pupil has increased from £8,300 in 2010 to the current figure of £10,100. 

With higher spending per pupil than any other UK devolved nation, the gap between cash per pupil in Scotland and England has widened by 16 per cent since 2010. 

These findings come after the 2023 Pisa report indicated falling performance standards in Scottish secondary schools, placing Scotland below England in reading, maths and science. 

The decline in education levels was attributed to Covid disruption and pupils’ use of mobile phones in schools. 

The IFS report also predicts a decrease of 90,000 pupils in Scottish schools by 2040. 

It said that the Scottish Government’s pledge to maintain teacher numbers at 2023 levels could result in the lowest number of pupils per teacher on record, from 14 today to 12 in 2040. 

Class sizes in Scottish schools are also smaller than in any other UK nation. 

The IFS study advised that cutting teaching jobs in line with falling pupil numbers could release an additional £500m annually for council budgets. 

IFS Research Economist Darcey Snape said: “With class sizes already low in Scotland, cutting teacher numbers in line with the projected fall in pupil numbers could in principle free up funds for spending elsewhere, for schools or other areas of council budgets. 

“These savings may be particularly valuable in the context of what looks like a tight financial outlook over the coming years for both the Scottish Government and Scottish councils.” 

She added: “The evidence also suggests that smaller class sizes only tend to have modest effects on pupil attainment, suggesting that if improving attainment is the Scottish Government’s priority, further reductions in class sizes may not be the most cost-effective way of doing so.” 

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP warned that the Scottish Government had made a “complete pig’s ear” of plans for teaching jobs. 

He said: “Too many good teachers are stuck on supply lists or short-term contracts, unable to find permanent employment. At the same time, there is a shortage of teachers in more rural parts of the country and in key subjects like sciences and languages. 

“Education has become the SNP’s flagship failure. That’s why we need a change of government to get Scottish education back to its best.” 

Snape said that while reducing the number of teachers would pose some practical challenges, individual council decision-making on teaching jobs could prove more effective than a “one-size-fits-all approach” for Scotland. 

She said: “The Scottish Government could then focus on engaging with councils to ensure that training and recruitment of teachers better align with locally identified needs and on ways to improve the quality of teaching and learning across Scotland.” 

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The education secretary has been clear that the Scottish Government is determined to continue to drive improvements in our schools. 

“Teachers will play a central role in these efforts and Ministers would not support any suggestions that teacher numbers should be cut.” 

They added: “That is why we are increasing funding for local authorities to £186.5m this year, as part of an agreement with Cosla to restore teacher numbers to 2023 levels, freeze learning hours and make meaningful progress to reduce class contact time. 

“We are also delivering a package of £28m to employ more specialist staff and teachers to support additional support needs (ASN) in schools and a further £1m to support national initiatives to help recruit and train more ASN teachers.”