Anne Main, MP for St Albans, led the debate in Parliament on school funding.
The MP called the debate and made an opening speech, which pressed for more money to go into education ahead of the Chancellor’s budget.
During the debate, Mrs Main MP raised the increasing pressures on school budgets and highlighted the growing additional costs schools have to pay themselves.
She also stressed the pressures that come from staff salary increases, including the obligation for schools to fund the first one per cent of recently announced pay rises.
Mrs Main MP said: “The simple facts tell us that more money is being spent on our schools and that is a good thing. But schools are not feeling the effects of this increase in funds.
“Schools do not feel the effects of small budget increases as their increasing costs and financial obligations mean that they have less money to spend on improving pupil education.”
Mrs Main MP stopped short of calling for tax rises for the increase, saying: “I am certain the government can find the money (from existing budgets) for this if we prioritise our spending appropriately.”
The MP for St Albans raised the pressures on special education needs children and the additional money schools have been calling for to help these pupils.
Mrs Main MP also said that confusion surrounding the new National Funding Formula has meant schools have not been able to plan for the long term financially.
Speaking after the debate, she said: “I was incredibly grateful for the input from head teachers and parents in St Albans who spoke to me about their experiences and I really hope this will make a difference.”
The Chancellor’s Budget is next week and it would be wonderful if more money from existing budgets was found to help our schools.’
The Chancellor’s response to the debate, which took place on Wednesday, October 24, was to promise an extra £400m for the Education budget as an “in-year bonus”.
The investment outlined by the Chancellor is worth an average of £10,000 per primary and £50,000 per secondary school.
Speaking to the House of Commons the Chancellor said the money would “buy the little extras they need”.
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