Spending by schools on education consultancy increased almost threefold between 2002-03 and 2016-17, according to official Department for Education documents published today.
New statistics published as part of a drive to cut school costs show that consultancy, back office costs and education support staff were the spending areas which saw the biggest real-terms increases over the 14 year period.
In 2016-17, spending on education consultancy was 196 per cent higher in real terms than it was in 2002-03, while spending on education support staff is 138 per cent higher, and spending on back office functions is 105 per cent higher.
Spending on teachers rose by 17 per cent in real-terms over the same period, compared to a 42 per cent real terms rise in overall school spending per pupil. In more recent years, however, there has been a real-terms fall in spending.
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