David Saunders
When it comes to overseas aid for education, the British public appears to know exactly where it stands: invest in children, not cuts.
A new YouGov survey commissioned by campaign group Send My Friend to School has revealed that more than half of the UK population (55%) want the Government to use its overseas aid budget to ensure children in developing countries have access to education.
That number shoots up to 68% among those who voted Labour in 2024, with younger voters even more emphatic. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of 18–24-year-olds believe the UK should prioritise overseas aid for education, showing that while Westminster debates line items, the public is crystal clear on its values.
And it’s not just a vague feel-good instinct. Half of Labour supporters (50%) say that investing in girls’ education abroad will have a direct positive impact here in the UK.
Across the wider public, three times as many people (35%) think the benefits of UK investments in girls’ education overseas will outweigh negatives (10%).
A coalition pushing for classrooms, not cuts
Send My Friend to School—now in its 25th year—has built a coalition of 22 NGOs and teachers’ unions, including Street Child, Save the Children, the National Education Union, and Results UK.
The campaign has mobilised hundreds of thousands of young people across the country to remind politicians that education isn’t a privilege, it’s a right.
But that right is under pressure. Despite strong public opinion, ministers have signalled that UK aid spending on education programmes could be targeted for cuts. The timing is awkward: 2026 will see two major multilateral funds, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW), begin replenishment rounds.
Emma Wagner, Co-Chair of Send My Friend to School, didn’t mince her words: “This research suggests that the government’s proposed focus on reducing education support within aid spending is out of step with public opinion. If the Government hopes to maintain strong support for international development—and retain the confidence of the voters who backed them in 2024—education should remain a central priority, not an area marked for disproportionate cuts.”
‘The single most powerful tool’
For those working on the ground, the stakes could not be clearer. Street Child’s CEO and Founder, Tom Dannatt, said: “Education is not just a fundamental right, it is the single most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and transform futures. At Street Child we see every day the impact of providing access to safe, quality learning for children in the world’s most fragile and disaster-hit regions.
The UK public is clear: education must remain at the heart of the aid budget. Turning away from that commitment would be turning away from millions of children’s futures.”
Labour MP Bambos Charalambous, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Education, echoed that sentiment with a pointed reminder of Britain’s past leadership role: “Education’s capability to improve children’s life chances is immeasurable and as this research shows, the general public agree.
The UK has been a world leader in championing global education and I for one have seen the difference that it makes to children who have been displaced and are living in refugee camps. I am calling on the Government to reaffirm their commitment to global education and ensure that aid for education is given the high priority that the people agree it deserves.”
A message politicians can’t ignore
If the poll is anything to go by, the message is simple: Britain’s voters still believe in classrooms over cuts when it comes to overseas aid for education.
With the next year set to be critical for global education financing, the question is whether Westminster is listening—or whether millions of children worldwide will be left waiting outside the school gates.
For full results, visit Send My Friend to School.
