School funding and financial sustainability
This study will examine whether the Department for Education is improving the financial sustainability of schools.
Local services make a huge difference to people's health, wellbeing and quality of life. Yet there are indications that local services are not sustainable – economically, socially or environmentally.
In the NHS, organisations are allowed to spend more, or less, than the money they have been given if needed to ensure patient care. As a result, an increasing proportion of Trusts are rated at "high risk of financial failure". Local councils, by contrast, are legally required to both keep within budget and deliver certain services. With a 37% cut in central funding over the five years since 2010, councils have had to cut back other services, and longer-term investment and innovation.
Whether budget cuts put pressure on services or on finances, radical change in the way services are delivered is needed to make them more effective and cheaper. Some solutions being tried include joining up the delivery of different services, delivering services across bigger regions, and delivering services digitally.
Key NAO publications:
This study will examine whether the Department for Education is improving the financial sustainability of schools.
This report examines the role played by the public bodies involved in operating and overseeing the cash system.
This report focuses on the financial sustainability of further education and sixth-form colleges.
Our study will examine the evolving financial pressures on local government and the support provided from central government.
This report provides information on managing PFI contracts when they end and considers whether government is preparing for expiry appropriately.
This report provides a summary of the UK government’s response to COVID-19 to date.
This is our eighth report on the financial sustainability of the
NHS.
This report assesses how well pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are being supported.
This report covers recent trends in pressures on children’s social care demand and activity and national and local government’s response.
The report examines whether the NHS is on track to achieve financial sustainability.