Chancellor Sajid Javid highlights Government's funding increase during visit to Alvechurch school - The Bromsgrove Standard

Chancellor Sajid Javid highlights Government's funding increase during visit to Alvechurch school

Bromsgrove Editorial 20th Oct, 2019   0

THE HEADTEACHER of Alvechurch’s Crown Meadow First School has given a cautious welcome to the Government’s increase in education funding which was announced last week.

Sally Athey was speaking after the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid visited the school last Friday.

Mrs Athey said: “We are going to have to see what the pledge means for our school and whether it can stabilise the budget and redress the imbalance of the last few years caused by the cuts.

“Worcestershire has been at the bottom of the pile when it came to funding and it is not just about giving the children the basics, we want to make sure we give the children a well-balanced education and curriculum.”




Mr Javid said the funding – an extra £7.1billion invested in education nationwide by 2022-23 and £14billion in total over the next three years – would mean an overall 4.6 per cent increase in money for Worcestershire schools.

He added funding would go up to £5,000 per secondary pupil from next year and from 2021 to 2022 every primary school pupil will receive at least £4,000.


He said the pupil-led increase will mean Crown Meadow First School will receive an extra 8.5 per cent or an extra £131,513 overall.

Parents, teachers, governors and campaigners from across Worcestershire had long campaigned for an increase in education funding in the county which received a lot less per pupil than other areas, such as Birmingham.

The Government also claimed teachers’ starting salaries can rise to £30,000 by 2022-23 in a bid to attract more talent to the profession.

There will also be a funding boost of £400million for 16 to 19-year-old education, the biggest injection in a single year since 2010.

This includes £25million for T-Levels – new qualifications rolling out in September 2020 which will transform vocational education with courses in subjects such as digital production and on-site construction.

Mr Javid said: “I know from experience a good school and inspirational teachers are the most effective engine for social mobility there is.

“Every single one of our schools will be receiving more money to be spent on each of their students.

“When our children succeed, our community succeeds. That’s why I want to establish Bromsgrove as a district of educational excellence – so every child receives the best possible start in life, and is able to reach their full potential.”

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