Chapter 7 Education & Skills
Portfolio Responsibilities
Improving the life chances of our children, young people and learners of all ages continues to be a key priority for this government. The Education and Skills portfolio invests in changing lives for the better and underpins key government priorities, including enabling everybody to reach their full potential, eradicating child poverty and supporting economic transformation to deliver Net Zero ambitions.
This budget, including funding delivered through the local government settlement, will:
- continue to deliver 1,140 hours of high-quality early learning and childcare to all three and four year olds and eligible two year olds;
- continue the delivery of a statutory financial redress scheme for survivors of child abuse in care;
- maintain £200 million annual investment in the Scottish Attainment Challenge in order to increase the pace of progress on closing the poverty-related attainment gap;
- invest in our colleges, universities and their students to support the development of well-educated, highly skilled people and securing world-class research and cutting edge innovation; and
- continue to offer apprenticeship opportunities that are open to all.
In 2023-24 we will:
- provide additional capital funding to support the expansion of provision of free school meals;
- provide £50 million through Whole Family Wellbeing Funding for preventative holistic family support and a further £30 million to #KeepThePromise to our care-experienced children and young people;
- support the Scottish Funding Council and our colleges and universities through a process of continuous improvement and reform to deliver the commitments as described in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, building on the recommendations from the SFC's Review of Tertiary Education and Research, including in defining the Purpose and Principles for post-school education, skills and research;
- provide £10 million in capital funding to local authorities to renew play parks in Scotland to ensure children have access to high-quality outdoor play in their own communities;
- provide up to £16 million funding to third sector organisations through the Children Young People Families and Adult Learners third sector fund;
- continue to fund skills and training activities, including delivery of No One Left Behind and funding for Skills Development Scotland;
- continue to provide Education Maintenance Allowance to young people in education from low-income families; and
- continue to support the work of our employer-led Developing the Young Workforce Groups so that young people can make choices about their future based on the needs of employers.
Table 7.01: Spending Plans (Level 2)
| Level 2 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Learning |
321.9 |
461.5 |
542.0 |
| Education Reform |
74.6 |
93.0 |
100.3 |
| Education Scotland |
29.9 |
28.7 |
28.7 |
| Children and Families |
182.6 |
220.2 |
293.7 |
| Early Learning and Childcare Programme |
39.8 |
56.8 |
53.2 |
| Higher Education Student Support |
1,399.3 |
1,017.6 |
925.1 |
| Scottish Funding Council |
1,911.0 |
1,973.8 |
2,012.6 |
| Lifelong Learning |
20.6 |
22.9 |
22.7 |
| Skills and Training |
277.2 |
271.9 |
262.2 |
| COVID-19 Funding |
68.0 |
- |
- |
| Total Education & Skills |
4,324.6 |
4,146.5 |
4,240.5 |
| of which: |
| Total Fiscal Resource |
2,815.0 |
2,927.0 |
3,059.1 |
| of which Operating Costs |
43.6 |
47.1 |
48.9 |
| Non-cash |
673.2 |
351.9 |
194.5 |
| Capital |
398.0 |
484.0 |
551.1 |
| Financial Transactions (FTs) |
22.1 |
22.1 |
15.0 |
| UK Funded AME |
416.3 |
361.3 |
420.8 |
| Presentational Adjustments for Scottish Parliament Approval |
| Education Reform (NDPB non-cash) |
(3.7) |
(4.0) |
(2.0) |
| Children and Families (NDPB non-cash) |
(2.7) |
(2.8) |
(2.0) |
| SFC (NDPB non-cash) |
(27.7) |
(27.2) |
(26.7) |
| Skills and Training (NDPB non-cash) |
(0.9) |
(1.4) |
(1.7) |
| Central Government Grants to Local Authorities |
666.4 |
646.3 |
646.3 |
| Total Education and Skills |
4,956.0 |
4,757.4 |
4,854.5 |
| Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) |
350.0 |
|
|
Table 7.02: Learning Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Workforce and Infrastructure |
164.5 |
267.3 |
279.7 |
| Education Analytical Services |
4.9 |
5.1 |
5.0 |
| Improvement, Attainment and Wellbeing |
152.4 |
189.1 |
257.3 |
| Total Learning |
321.9 |
461.5 |
542.0 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
321.5 |
421.1 |
447.8 |
| Non-cash |
– |
– |
– |
| Capital |
0.4 |
40.4 |
94.2 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 7.03: Education Reform Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Gaelic |
25.2 |
25.3 |
26.3 |
| Curriculum |
13.3 |
31.4 |
31.5 |
| Education Reform |
36.0 |
36.3 |
42.5 |
| Total Education Reform |
74.6 |
93.0 |
100.3 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
65.4 |
83.5 |
91.8 |
| Non-cash |
3.7 |
4.0 |
2.0 |
| Capital |
5.5 |
5.5 |
6.5 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 7.04: Education Scotland Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Education Scotland |
29.9 |
28.7 |
28.7 |
| Total Education Scotland |
29.9 |
28.7 |
28.7 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
27.4 |
27.4 |
27.4 |
| Non-cash |
0.3 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
| Capital |
2.2 |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 7.05: Children and Families Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Children's Rights, Protection and Justice |
52.1 |
51.4 |
50.9 |
| Strategy, GIRFEC and The Promise |
26.0 |
26.0 |
95.9 |
| Redress, Relations and Response |
31.2 |
62.5 |
62.7 |
| Disclosure Scotland Expenditure |
22.9 |
24.3 |
23.5 |
| Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser |
21.1 |
21.2 |
21.2 |
| Creating Positive Futures |
29.3 |
34.7 |
39.5 |
| Total Children and Families |
182.6 |
220.2 |
293.7 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
164.2 |
194.4 |
264.2 |
| Non-cash |
10.5 |
12.3 |
12.1 |
| Capital |
7.9 |
13.5 |
17.4 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 7.06: Early Learning and Childcare Programme Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Early Learning and Childcare |
39.8 |
56.8 |
53.2 |
| Total Early Learning and Childcare Programme |
39.8 |
56.8 |
53.2 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
39.8 |
56.8 |
48.2 |
| Non-cash |
– |
– |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
5.0 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 7.07: Higher Education Student Support Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Student Support and Tuition Fee Payments |
328.2 |
328.2 |
328.2 |
| Student Loans Company Administration Costs |
8.5 |
6.4 |
6.4 |
| Student Loan Interest Subsidy to Bank |
2.8 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
| Cost of Providing Student Loans (RAB Charge) (non-cash) |
629.0 |
304.1 |
149.0 |
| Student Awards Agency for Scotland Operating Costs |
12.9 |
12.9 |
13.0 |
| SAAS Capital |
1.6 |
1.9 |
4.9 |
| Net Student Loans Advanced |
585.0 |
530.0 |
826.0 |
| Capitalised Interest |
(80.0) |
(80.0) |
(316.5) |
| Student Loan Fair Value Adjustment |
(90.0) |
(90.0) |
(90.0) |
| Student Loan Sale Subsidy Impairment Adjustment |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
| Total Higher Education Student Support |
1,399.3 |
1,017.6 |
925.1 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
351.3 |
348.7 |
348.7 |
| Non-cash |
630.1 |
305.7 |
150.7 |
| Capital |
1.6 |
1.9 |
4.9 |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
416.3 |
361.3 |
420.8 |
Table 7.08: Scottish Funding Council Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Scottish Funding Council Administration |
7.8 |
8.1 |
7.8 |
| College Operational Expenditure |
865.7 |
865.7 |
891.7 |
| College Operational Income |
(190.0) |
(190.0) |
(190.0) |
| Net College Resource |
675.7 |
675.7 |
701.7 |
| College NPD Expenditure |
29.3 |
29.3 |
29.3 |
| College Depreciation Costs |
27.5 |
26.7 |
26.5 |
| HE Resource |
768.2 |
789.2 |
809.2 |
| Net College Capital |
33.7 |
74.7* |
82.4* |
| HE Capital |
346.7 |
348.0 |
340.7 |
| HE FTs |
30.5 |
31.0 |
26.6 |
| HE FTs Income |
(8.4) |
(8.9) |
(11.6) |
| Total Scottish Funding Council |
1,911.0 |
1,973.8 |
2,012.6 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
1,480.8 |
1,501.8 |
1,547.8 |
| Non-cash |
27.7 |
27.2 |
26.7 |
| Capital |
380.4 |
422.7 |
423.1 |
| FTs |
22.1 |
22.1 |
15.0 |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
*Includes £5m to be apportioned between the college, university and CLD sectors
Table 7.09: Lifelong Learning Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Higher Education |
14.6 |
14.9 |
14.7 |
| Qualifications and Accreditation |
3.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
| Science Engagment Advice |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
| Total Lifelong Learning |
20.6 |
22.9 |
22.7 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
20.6 |
22.9 |
22.7 |
| Non-cash |
– |
– |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 7.10: Skills and Training Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Skills Development Scotland |
230.9 |
225.6 |
215.9 |
| Employability and Skills |
46.3 |
46.3 |
46.3 |
| Total Skills and Training |
277.2 |
271.9 |
262.2 |
| of which: |
| Fiscal Resource |
276.3 |
270.5 |
260.5 |
| Non-cash |
0.9 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
Table 7.11: Central Government Grants to Local Authorities Spending Plans (Level 3)
| Level 3 |
2021-22 Budget |
2022-23 Budget |
2023-24 Budget |
| £m |
£m |
£m |
| Gaelic |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
| Local Government Attainment Grant** |
140.0 |
120.0 |
120.0 |
| Local Government ELC Grant |
521.9 |
521.9 |
521.9 |
| Education and Skills Total Central Government Grants to Local Authorities |
666.4 |
646.3 |
646.3 |
| of which: |
|
|
|
| Fiscal Resource |
666.4 |
646.3 |
646.3 |
| Non-cash |
– |
– |
– |
| Capital |
– |
– |
– |
| FTs |
– |
– |
– |
| UK Funded AME |
– |
– |
– |
** As in previous years, a portion of the raising attainment budget line will be used to top up Local Government Attainment Grant above £120m, to meet the increasing costs of the programme. 2021-22 figures include £20m Local Government Attainment Grant premium to support immediate COVID-19 recovery priorities for children and young people most impacted by poverty.
Education and Skills contributions to the National Outcomes
Primary National Outcomes
- Education
- Children and Young People
- Economy
- Poverty
Secondary National Outcomes
- Communities
- Human Rights
- Fair Work and Business
- International
- Culture
For further information on the purpose of the portfolio budget, and contributions to national outcomes (including impacts of spend on equality of outcome) please refer to the relevant portfolio annex in the published Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement.
