School children across Westmorland and Lonsdale are set to benefit from a record £14 billion of government funding, levelling up per pupil funding across the country so every child has access to a world class education.
The cash boost will mean that every secondary school will receive a minimum of £5,000 per pupil next year and every primary school will get a minimum of £4,000 per pupil from 2021-22, rising at least in line with inflation.
It will also see £700 million extra for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), so youngsters can access the education that is right for them, and none are held back from reaching their potential.
In addition, the new funding will mean £400 million additional funding for further education and sixth form colleges to help young people get the skills they need to get well-paid jobs after leaving.
The Prime Minister has also pledged to meet the £4.5 billion requirement for teachers’ pensions from outside the education budget. This means that every penny of the extra £14 billion will go straight to schools and delivering the best educational outcomes for our children.
Commenting, Councillor James Airey, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale said:
“I am delighted that the Prime Minister has delivered on his pledge to level up per pupil funding across the country so every child will get the benefit of a world class education.
“It’s all about getting the best start in life, which is why it’s great that the Government has set up plans to properly fund our schools – getting this country back on the road to a brighter future.”
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “When I became Prime Minster at the start of the summer, I promised to make sure every child receives a superb education - regardless of which school they attend, or where they grew up.
“Today I can announce the first step in delivering on that pledge – funding per pupil in primary and secondary schools will increase and be levelled up across the entire country.
“We should not accept the idea that there can be ‘winners or losers’ when it comes to our children’s futures. That’s why we are providing additional funding now and for the future for every school, with those historically underfunded receiving the greatest increase.
“My government will ensure all young people get the best possible start in life. That means the right funding, but also giving schools the powers they need to deal with bad behaviour and bullying so pupils continue to learn effectively”.
