MP welcomes cash boost for Northumberland schools that could see funding rise up to 40%

Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan has welcomed the announcement of a significant increase in schools funding.
Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan at Spittal First School.Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan at Spittal First School.
Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan at Spittal First School.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has revealed a total investment of an extra £14 billion over three years, including a large new fund earmarked for the support of children with special needs and disabilities.

Anne-Marie said: “I am delighted we have honoured this manifesto commitment so quickly, as it will make such a difference here in Northumberland, especially for smaller, often rural schools.

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“Many schools in my constituency will see total funding increases of around 20% with some receiving as much as 40% more.

“Historically, the per-pupil funding stream meant smaller schools with fewer pupils struggled to make ends meet, which is why I have campaigned for fairer schools funding since I was first elected.

“This is really good news for Northumberland schools.”

A total additional investment of £14 billion across three years – the largest funding boost in a decade – will allow for a cash increase of £2.6 billion to core schools funding from April 2020, with increases of £4.8 billion and £7.1 billion in 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively, compared to 2019-20.

The investment also includes an additional £780 million in 2020-21 to support children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) – an increase of 12% compared to 2019-20.

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The Education Secretary also confirmed that, at a minimum, every secondary school will receive at least £5,000 per pupil and every primary school will receive at least £3,750 per pupil next year, which will rise to £4,000 per pupil the following year.

To ensure that schools fully benefit from this pledge, the Government will lay regulations later this month to ensure local authorities pass on these minimum per pupil funding levels to schools.

As well as supporting the lowest funded schools, this marks an important step towards a ‘hard’ national funding formula – where schools’ budgets are set on the basis of a single, national formula.

The average per pupil funding for a primary school pupil in Berwick constituency for 2020-21 will now be £9,003.