Secondary schools with poorest pupils faced biggest cuts, say experts

Secondary schools with the most disadvantaged pupils have been hit hardest by funding cuts over the last decade, according to new research.

A new study by the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank found that between 2010 and 2021, the most deprived secondary schools saw a real-terms cut of 12%.

In contrast, the least deprived schools saw only a 5% funding cut in the same period.

But the Department for Education insisted the analysis “doesn’t tell the whole story”.