Scottish Budget: 2023 to 2024

The Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government’s proposed spending and tax plans for 2023 to 2024, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.


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.

Contact

Email: ScottishBudget@gov.scot

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