THE government has been urged to put forward “serious investment” in education in tomorrow’s Budget after the publication of a damning report on the past two decades of education policies.

The study for the Sutton Trust set out three major challenges facing the sector: failure to make progress on closing the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their better-off peers; the decimation of post-16 education; and a reduction in pastoral support for young people. 

The trust said these issues all have been worsened by funding reductions under the coalition and Conservative governments and a lack of political direction in education policy.

Sutton Trust founder Sir Peter Lampl said: “The biggest education failure of the last government was to make little progress in tackling the gap in attainment between low-income pupils and their peers. The Conservatives lost their focus on disadvantage.

“It’s hugely damaging for both young people and the country that the talent of so many youngsters is being wasted.

“The Labour government says it will break down barriers to opportunity but, as yet, there is no sense that the scale of investment and policy action needed to deliver this will be forthcoming.”

Sir Peter warned that another decade cannot pass without progress. He said: “The government should rebalance the national funding formula and increase pupil premium funding.  

“The priority is to deal with the teacher recruitment crisis, caused principally by working from home, which makes teaching much less attractive than other occupations.”

Commenting on the Lessons Learnt report, National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “It is clear from this review that the new government has a mountain to climb.

“The education sector has been devastated by 14 years of neglect and mismanagement.

“Conservative strategy led to a flawed funding formula and a failure to keep pace with inflation.

“The impact on college funding has been dire, and the decline in pay experienced by further education teachers is nothing short of shocking.”

Mr Kebede said the union “want to work with Labour on turning the page.”

He said: “There is much to be done, and this must be matched with a serious investment in education if the government is to truly support schools and colleges.

“That should start in the autumn Budget.”

The Department for Education was contacted for comment.