School funding increase needed, says MP

FUNDING for schools should be increased in next week’s spring statement, Warrington South MP Faisal Rashid said in a Commons debate.
He called on chancellor Philip Hammond to listen to the concerns of teachers and parents by substantially increasing schools funding.
Mr Rashid, criticised the government’s schools funding policy in parliament this week, calling on the Chancellor to listen to the concerns of teachers and parents by substantially increasing funding for schools in next week’s spring statement.
According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, schools in England are now facing the biggest fall in per-pupil spending in 30 years. In Warrington, 69 out of 80 schools face cuts.
In his speech, Mr Rashid raised the concerns of local school leaders, noting that a number have been forced to set a budget deficit next year. He called on the Minister directly to justify putting hard-working educators in this position.
Last year, Mr Rashid surveyed over 30 schools from across Warrington South. Since 2015, over 80 per cent of schools in the constituency have been forced to cut basic educational provisions such as books, equipment and teacher training. The same number reported that they have had to make staffing cuts due to funding pressures. Every single one of the schools surveyed reported that they were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their current levels of funding.
Mr Rashid said: “Despite the best efforts of our hard-working school leaders to protect pupils from these cuts, this is becoming more and more difficult.
“Schools with the potential to achieve the very best results are being held back by insufficient budgets.
“I am sure that every Member, on both sides of the House, will want every child in their constituency and in our country to get the best possible start in life, but if the Government do not change their course, this simply will not be possible.
“Our schools must be provided with the resources they need, funding cuts must be reversed and per pupil funding must be increased in real terms.
“Next week, the chancellor will issue his Spring Statement. This is an opportunity for the government to listen to the concerns of teachers and parents across the country and substantially increase funding for our schools.
“If the Government is serious about the future direction of our country, it must start seriously investing in those who stand to inherit it”.