Fairer schools funding is critical to ensuring our young people receive the very best education and the Government is committed to ensuring every child is properly funded wherever they are in the country.
As part of that commitment, on the 4th September, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £7.1 billion increase in funding for schools. This comes as part of a three-year settlement for schools, starting with an additional £2.6 billion next year and rising to £7.1 billion in 2022-23.
Next year every secondary school will receive a minimum of £5,000 per pupil, and by 2021-22 every primary school will get at least £4,000 per pupil per year. Solihull has been one of 42 local authorities among the lowest funded for Education in England.
Although the Solihull borough educates over 8,000 pupils from surrounding authorities, their higher funding that they would have attracted in their own authority does not come with them to Solihull. I am part of the F40 group of MPs who fought for a fairer funding formula. The formula was re-worked and a number of Solihull schools received significantly more funding.
In addition, over £700 million extra has been put aside for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and over £400 million more will go to Further Education funding, which is great news for Solihull College and their good work in training and preparing so many of our students for future employment in the modern economy. Our teachers’ hard work too will be rightfully recognised, with their starter salaries and pensions due to go up across the board.
There is also good news for the borough, as the Chancellor says local councils will get a much needed £1 billion for social care next year. Homelessness will also continue to be high on the agenda with £54 million of new funding to address the problem and protect people from rough sleeping.
This is all good news for the region, and alongside the announcement to help regenerate town centres’ high streets with a package that will support small businesses and provide support to ensure the continued vibrancy of rural town life, will have a positive impact on the area.
Dame Caroline Spelman
