Extra funding will be split between budget for building free schools and address school place shortages

The government has announced 拢1.2bn of extra funding for schools capital projects in its autumn statement - double the amount expected.

As widely trailed, George Osborne announced today that the Treasury would make available 拢600m to fund the launch of around 100 additional free schools by the end of the current parliament, including schools that specialise in maths.

However, he also announced 拢600m of basic need funding, which will be used to address the urgent shortfall of school places in England, particularly at primary school level.

This 拢600m, which is in addition to the annual settlements planned by the Department for Education for the current spending review period, will be spent between 2013-14 and 2014-15. It comes on top of 拢500m of basic need funding allocated to local authorities earlier this month.

The 拢600m of free schools funding is earmarked to be split into a 拢300m spend in 2013/14 and 拢300m in 2014/15.

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