Election 2017 Party Policy Guide: Education

Conservatives

Labour

Liberal Democrats

Commentary

On education, the Conservatives say they will invest an additional £4bn in schools by 2022, but the National Union of Teachers has described this as "an inadequate response to the funding crisis and a misleading presentation". It says this equates to £1bn a year, which is "clearly not enough" with schools facing a £3bn real-terms cut in their funding.

Labour proposes to establish a new National Education Service with additional funding for schools, reduced class sizes, and free school meals for all primary-age children if it forms the next government. The plans will be funded with £19.4bn that will be raised by reversing the Conservative Party's cuts to corporation tax.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have said they would invest nearly £7bn more in schools and colleges over the next parliament in order to reverse cuts to frontline school and college budgets, protect per pupil funding in real terms and ensure no school loses out from the national funding formula.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) describes Labour's plans as "encouraging".

"We know that the school funding crisis is hitting all schools. Committing to reduce class sizes to under 30 for all five-, six- and seven-year-olds is welcome," NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby says. "Rising class sizes is a consequence of real-terms funding cuts, and one that school leaders are being forced to make."