Nigel Evans, MP for the Ribble Valley, recently received an update from the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds, regarding school standards and resourcing in Lancashire.
Mr Hinds’ letter highlights the increase in schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, stating that across Lancashire 86% of pupils are now in a high-rated school compared to 68% in 2010. Further to this, it is stated that 5,133 school places have been added in Lancashire since 2010, as part of approximately one million national places that will have been created in the decade up to 2020.
In 2019-20, the National Funding Forumla (NFF) for Lancashire is increasing by £128 (2.9%), it will be £4,064 per primary pupil and £5,097 per secondary school pupil, in addition to £19.5 million brought the growth, premises and mobility factors of the formula, which are not distributed on a per pupil basis.
Speaking from Westminster, Nigel Evans commented:
“We are lucky in the Ribble Valley to have some of the best schools in Lancashire, in fact, people choose to move into the area so their children can attend our schools. This is just one reason why it is so important that the Government prioritises the implementation of a long-term strategy to increase school places.”
“It is essential that our schools are properly funded to ensure that attainment standards continue to soar. I am pleased to see that per pupil funding is gradually rising to reflect the additional demands of modern teaching, but I also appreciate that more needs to be done; this does represent a step in the right direction.”
Lancashire will also receive £50.2 million in Pupil Premium funding for the 41,448 eligible students across the county, whilst local authorities will receive £117.7 million per year by 2020 for High Needs funding.
Continuing Mr Evans said:
“From my communication with the Education Secretary I am aware that he will be making a very strong case at the Spending Review for additional education funding, I am fully supportive of his representations on this matter.”