Budget 2018: Schools and education

Measures announced at the Budget will provide additional support necessary to help children get the care, education and support they need. I am pleased to see that the core schools budget is at a record high this year, standing at more than £42 billion rising to £43.5billion by 2019/20. The government has also allocated £5.8 billion between 2015 and 2020 to deliver new school places.

 

Because of the reforms to our education system made since 2010, I am pleased that the UK’s education system has continued to climb the global leader boards and that the proportion of children in good or outstanding schools has risen from 66% in 2010 to 86% in 2018.

 

This additional funding comes as we transition to a national funding formula, and I welcome the fact that the new formula will maintain overall per-pupil funding in real terms over the next two years. The new national funding formula will increase the basic amount allocated for every pupil and will allocate a minimum per-pupil funding level for both secondary and primary schools to target the lowest funded schools.

 

What this means for schools in Norwich North is that as a result of the proposed funding formula, schools will receive an increase in funding of 2.7%, an additional £1.4 million.

In the Budget the Chancellor announced an additional £400m for schools in England to spend on improving their facilities. This funding will be allocated directly to schools this financial year with the average primary school receiving around £10,000 and the average secondary school around £50,000.

I would like to share with you a copy of the letter I received from the Chancellor on budget day which reiterates the Government’s commitment to improve every child’s education.

With regards to post-18 education, the Government have announced a review into the post-18 education and funding system in England will ensure that all students are given a genuine choice between high-quality technical, vocational and academic routes in a system accessible to all; students and taxpayers are getting value for money; and employers can access the skilled workforce they need.

 

As part of the review, the government will receive advice from an independent panel. The panel will report to ministers at an interim stage before the government concludes the overall review.

 

In my job as your local MP I have the pleasure of visiting our local schools regularly and seeing first hand the fantastic work they do educating the next generation of Norwich. I welcome the Budget announcement on schools and will work hard in Parliament to ensure that schools in Norwich get their fair share of funding, putting an end to the historical disparity that has created huge differences in funding between similar schools.