HUW WELCOMES INCREASE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL BUDGETS
Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, has welcomed the additional
£1.3 billion a year extra funding for schools and praised parents and
teachers across the constituency for helping him press the Government to
do more.
The additional funding carries a guarantee that a minimum of £4,800
will be spent each year on every secondary school pupil across East
Sussex. For some of the secondary schools in the Bexhill and Battle
constituency, this will mean up to an 8.3% increase. Despite existing
record high levels of Government spending on schools, staff and parents
from local schools have contacted the MP with their concerns about
additional costs which their schools were struggling to meet.
Huw said "Last month I met again with many of the Headteachers who
represent schools across the constituency for us to discuss our next
plan of action. I am therefore really pleased with the government
decision. I am grateful to the heads, teachers, and hundreds of parents
who have written to or spoken with me to highlight their concerns. This
year alone, I have had six separate meetings with the Education
Secretary and Schools' Minister to press the case for my schools. I now
hope that this extra money will help schools in my constituency to
continue to thrive."
Since his election in 2015, the MP has launched his 'school a week'
programme which has seen him visit most of the schools in the
constituency at least once.
Huw said "As the son of a teacher, and a trade union rep at that, I have
a passion for ensuring that our schools continue to thrive and speaking
up for them in Parliament. One of the pleasures of this job is spending
time with pupils, teachers and parents. We need to support them in
everything they do and I hope this additional funding will help. The
challenge for me is to ensure that the money reaches the classrooms and,
if not enough, continue to fight for more funding."
Having received a commitment for guaranteed secondary school funding in
the constituency, Mr. Merriman has written to the Education Secretary,
Justine Greening, to obtain the same funding commitment for primary
schools in his constituency.