THE GOVERNMENT’S £14billion increase in education funding between now and 2022/23 has been welcomed by West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin and Worcestershire County Council, writes Kate Duffy.
Worcestershire has previously been considered underfunded compared to other areas, such as Birmingham, but this boost – touted as a record investment in England’s schools – will see secondary schools across the county receive a minimum of £5,000-per-student and primary schools £4,000.
The increased funding will see the Department for Education increase teacher’s starting salaries to a minimum of £30,000-a-year from 2022.
An additional £400 million to be spent on further education and sixth-form which coincides with an additional £700million to support school children with Special and Education Needs (SEND).
Mrs Baldwin repeated her request for the Chancellor to inject extra cash into the Worcestershire school system.
She has vigorously campaigned for further funding increases to help local schools and colleges balance their budgets and give young people the best possible start in life.
She said: “I’ve spent a lot of time pressing for a better funding deal in Westminster.
“I will continue to press for a fairer deal and keep the pressure up to raise funding for 16 to 19-year-olds.
“But all-in-all this is great news.”
Coun Marcus Hart said that the increased funding was a testament to the determination of the headteachers, governors, schools and teachers in the region but added there was still much more work to be done.
“This funding will really help us to continue the positive progress the SEND improvement plan has made since its launch and help us to ensure all children are happy, healthy and safe.”
The council is still waiting to receive further details on the exact funding position for Worcestershire.
Chancellor of the Exchequer and Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid, who holds the nation’s purse strings, said he was especially delighted to announce the biggest funding increase to 16 to 19-year-old education funding since 2010.
He added: “This is a sector giving young people vital skills.”
