Scottish Budget: 2024 to 2025
The Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government’s proposed spending and tax plans for 2024 to 2025, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.
Annex A.5 – Education & Skills
Portfolio Responsibilities
We are prioritising our budget towards our aim to ensure excellence and equity in education and skills, including reducing the poverty-related attainment gap and to support our wider national mission to tackle child poverty.
This portfolio’s responsibilities include support for children and families plus early learning and childcare, school and post-school education. It is also responsible for the provision of skills programmes and for the funding of a number of important public bodies and agencies.
Our children, young people and learners of all ages continue to be a key priority for this Government. The Education and Skills portfolio invests in improving and changing lives for the better and underpins key government priorities, including the three missions of equality, opportunity and community.
We will maintain our commitment to invest £1 billion over the course of this parliament to tackle the poverty related attainment gap, with £200 million to be distributed in 2024-25. This long-term targeted investment improves outcomes for children and young people and helps break the cycle of poverty.
We will continue to provide £145.5 million to local authorities to maintain teachers in the system and enable councils to offer permanent contracts to our education workforce.
The next phase of our expansion of Free School Meals will be targeted in the first instance to children in primary 6 and 7 who are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, with £43 million of necessary capital investment to expand facilities and provision to begin during 2024-25.
We will invest £10 million capital in targeted device and connectivity provision for our most disadvantaged households with children. This will bring a range of benefits for families struggling with the cost of living crisis while also tackling digital exclusion amongst our most deprived learners.
Our continued investment in early learning and childcare (ELC) aims to ensure every child and young person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We will also ensure those delivering high-quality funded ELC in private, voluntary, and independent settings are paid at least £12 per hour.
We are steadfastly committed to keeping The Promise to Scotland’s care-experienced children and young people. We will continue our delivery of the Whole Family Wellbeing programme, providing £50 million in investment in holistic family support across Children’s Services Planning Partnerships and working with The Promise Scotland, other partners and potential investors to identify options for investment and disinvestment that support better outcomes.
We are taking action to support our colleges, universities and skills system with over £2.4 billion investment, including protecting the right to free tuition and driving forward our commitment to Widening Access. This will maintain Scotland’s reputation for world-leading research; provide opportunities for people to learn and develop their skills through further and higher education and apprenticeships and provide vital financial support to students to support them in completing their studies in the face of significant cost of living pressures.
Education & Skills Intended 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.
Education & Skills
| Level 2 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning | 458.4 | 496.9 | 712.5 |
| Education Reform | 92.1 | 99.4 | 98.4 |
| Education Scotland | 30.3 | 28.7 | 29.2 |
| Children and Families | 270.9 | 350.6 | 385.9 |
| Higher Education and Student Support | 1,017.6 | 925.1 | 1,484.6 |
| Scottish Funding Council | 1,973.9 | 2,012.6 | 1,905.2 |
| Lifelong Learning and Skills | 287.7 | 277.2 | 253.7 |
| Total Education & Skills | 4,130.9 | 4,190.5 | 4,869.5 |
| of which: | |||
| Total Fiscal Resource | 2,900.0 | 2,988.9 | 3,117.1 |
| of which Operating Costs | 35.2 | 37.4 | 38.1 |
| Non-cash | 359.9 | 203.2 | 402.5 |
| Capital | 486.5 | 562.0 | 554.6 |
| Financial Transactions (FTs) | 22.1 | 15.0 | (8.9) |
| UK Funded AME | 362.4 | 421.4 | 804.3 |
Presentational Adjustments for Scottish Parliament Approval
| Level 2 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Reform (NDPB Non-Cash) | (6.7) | (4.8) | (1.9) |
| Children and Families (NDPB Non-Cash) | (3.7) | (2.9) | (9.0) |
| SFC (NDPB Non-Cash) | (27.4) | (26.9) | (32.0) |
| Lifelong Learning (NDPB Non-Cash) | (3.3) | (3.5) | (1.8) |
| Central Government Grants to Local Authorities | 124.5 | 124.5 | 124.5 |
| Total Education and Skills | 4,214.3 | 4,276.8 | 4,949.4 |
| Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) | 350.0 |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Analytical Services | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| Improvement, Attainment & Wellbeing | 187.6 | 213.8 | 186.6 |
| Workforce, Infrastructure & Digital | 266.7 | 279.1 | 521.6 |
| Total Learning | 458.4 | 496.9 | 712.5 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 418.0 | 402.8 | 657.8 |
| Non-cash | – | – | – |
| Capital | 40.4 | 94.2 | 54.7 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | 30.8 | 30.9 | 30.0 |
| Education Reform | 36.1 | 42.3 | 43.2 |
| Gaelic | 25.1 | 26.1 | 25.1 |
| Total Education Reform | 92.1 | 99.4 | 98.4 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 79.8 | 88.0 | 85.8 |
| Non-cash | 6.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Capital | 5.5 | 6.5 | 7.9 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Scotland | 30.3 | 28.7 | 29.2 |
| Total Education Scotland | 30.3 | 28.7 | 29.2 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 26.5 | 26.5 | 26.5 |
| Non-cash | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| Capital | 1.0 | – | – |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | 0.5 | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Rights, Protection & Justice | 51.1 | 53.6 | 51.4 |
| Creating Positive Futures | 32.7 | 37.7 | 43.4 |
| Disclosure Scotland Expenditure | 24.8 | 23.5 | 23.8 |
| Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser | 20.9 | 28.1 | 49.4 |
| Redress, Relations and Response | 60.5 | 60.7 | 60.3 |
| Care Experience – Whole Family Wellbeing | 25.3 | 95.3 | 84.2 |
| Early Learning and Childcare | 55.6 | 51.7 | 73.5 |
| Total Children & Families | 270.9 | 350.6 | 385.9 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 242.6 | 302.5 | 329.4 |
| Non-cash | 14.4 | 14.9 | 13.2 |
| Capital | 13.5 | 32.6 | 43.2 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Support & Tuition Fee Payments | 328.2 | 328.2 | 304.8 |
| Student Loans Company Administration Costs | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 |
| Student Loan Interest Subsidy to Bank | 2.8 | 2.8 | 4.8 |
| Cost of Providing Student Loans (RAB Charge) (Non-Cash) | 304.1 | 149.0 | 346.4 |
| Student Awards Agency for Scotland Operating Costs | 12.9 | 13.0 | 11.2 |
| SAAS Capital | 1.9 | 4.9 | 6.9 |
| Net Student Loans Advanced | 530.0 | 826.0 | 865.0 |
| Capitalised Interest | (80.0) | (316.5) | (200.0) |
| Student Loan Fair Value Adjustment | (90.0) | (90.0) | 144.1 |
| Student Loan Sale Subsidy Impairment Adjustment | 1.3 | 1.3 | (5.0) |
| Total Higher Education Student Support | 1,017.6 | 925.1 | 1,484.6 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 348.6 | 348.6 | 327.1 |
| Non-cash | 305.8 | 150.8 | 346.5 |
| Capital | 1.9 | 4.9 | 6.9 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | 361.3 | 420.8 | 804.1 |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Funding Council Administration | 8.2 | 7.8 | 7.6 |
| College Operational Expenditure | 865.7 | 891.7 | 833.0 |
| College Operational Income | (190.0) | (190.0) | (190.0) |
| Net College Resource | 675.7 | 701.7 | 643.0 |
| College Not for Profit (NPD) Expenditure | 29.3 | 29.3 | 29.3 |
| College Depreciation Costs | 26.7 | 26.5 | 31.8 |
| HE Resource | 789.2 | 809.2 | 760.7 |
| College Capital Expenditure | 74.7 | 82.4 | 84.9 |
| College Capital Receipts | – | – | – |
| Net College Capital | 74.7 | 82.4 | 84.9 |
| HE Capital | 348.0 | 340.7 | 356.9 |
| HE FTs | 31.0 | 26.6 | – |
| HE FTs Income | (8.9) | (11.6) | (8.9) |
| Total Scottish Funding Council | 1,973.9 | 2,012.6 | 1,905.2 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 1,501.6 | 1,547.6 | 1,440.4 |
| Non-cash | 27.4 | 26.9 | 32.0 |
| Capital | 422.7 | 423.1 | 441.7 |
| FTs | 22.1 | 15.0 | (8.9) |
| UK Funded AME | 0.1 | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifelong Learning | 20.0 | 20.1 | 14.3 |
| Skills | 50.6 | 50.6 | 36.9 |
| Skills Development Scotland | 217.1 | 206.6 | 202.5 |
| Total Lifelong Learning | 287.7 | 277.2 | 253.7 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 282.9 | 273.0 | 250.1 |
| Non-cash | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| Capital | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| FTs | – | – | – |
| UK Funded AME | – | – | – |
| Level 3 | 2022-23 Budget £m | 2023-24 Budget £m | 2024-25 Budget £m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaelic | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Local Government Attainment Grant** | 120.0 | 120.0 | 120.0 |
| Education and Skills Total Central Government Grants to Local Authorities | 124.5 | 124.5 | 124.5 |
| of which: | |||
| Fiscal Resource | 124.5 | 124.5 | 124.5 |
| 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 Pupil Equity funding above £120m, to meet the increasing costs of the programme.
Contact
Email: ScottishBudget@gov.scot
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