Priti Patel MP secures cash boost for Essex schools
Schools across the Witham constituency are set to benefit from a significant cash boost in their budgets, thanks to the efforts of Witham MP, Priti Patel.
Priti has tirelessly campaigned for the introduction of a strategic long-term funding plan for schools and has welcomed this week’s announcement that the Government will invest a record £14 billion in schools across England over the next three years. Priti has led discussions with local headteachers and education ministers in advance of this announcement, to secure additional per pupil funding and extra investment for special educational needs, teachers’ pay and pension costs.
This cash boost will mean that every secondary school across the Witham constituency will receive a minimum of £5,000 per pupil next year and every primary school will receive a minimum of £4,000 per pupil from 2021-22. The £14 billion investment includes an extra £700 million to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This is in addition to the £4.5 billion the Government has pledged for teachers’ pensions over the next three years.
Following the announcement, Priti said: “Schools in my constituency and across Essex have been historically underfunded and I am delighted that the Government is committed to addressing this discrepancy and levelling up per pupil funding so that the education of children and young people in Witham is not disadvantaged. I initiated frequent discussions with local headteachers and education ministers to ensure that the Government was fully aware of the specific cost pressures affecting schools in my constituency and the need for a long-term funding plan.
“I am pleased that the Government has listened carefully to my representations and has announced a record, three-year funding settlement for schools delivering financial certainty and allowing them to plan their future budgets with confidence. I have always been a strong advocate for education and for the schools in my constituency. I will continue to support all my local schools, to secure investment and deliver better educational outcomes for all pupils.”