evidence: Spending on schools per head of population in Northern Ireland is similar to England, Scotland, and Wales. However, Northern Ireland’s comparatively large school age population means that spending per pupil is lower than elsewhere in the UK. On 22 October 2021, the BBC reported on a research publication by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and claimed that "Northern Ireland spends less on each school pupil’s education than any other part of the UK". The news article reported that about £6,400 would be spent per pupil in Northern Ireland in 2021–22, compared with £7,600 in Scotland, according to IFS figures. [...] This data shows that total education spend per head in Northern Ireland (£1,528) was higher than England and Wales, but lower than Scotland. Northern Ireland had a much higher spending per head on "subsidiary services to education" and "education not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.)", which could include spending that directly supports schools such as school transport, pupil support and special education.