'42 of Newbury’s 51 schools will see a reduction in their spending power next year' – Lib Dems claim
Schools in West Berkshire are facing a year-on-year cut in funding, according to the council.
It says it is aware of the pressure being placed upon school finances this financial year due to the recently agreed pay awards and significant increases to some non-staffing costs.
The statement follows claims by West Berkshire Liberal Democrats that 42 of Newbury’s 51 schools will see a reduction in their spending power next year compared to this year.
“This pressure is forecast to continue next year (2023-24),” said a West Berkshire education spokesperson.
“Funding through the National Funding Formula is increasing by 1.9 per cent overall in 2023-24, and 1.9 per cent per pupil, compared to 2022-23.
“The forecasted pay awards for both support and teaching staff are greater than 1.9 per cent and inflation, according to the CPI forecast, will be in the region of 10 per cent. Therefore, individually West Berkshire schools are facing a year-on-year cut in real terms.”
West Berkshire’s Liberal Democrats claim new figures show that schools in the Newbury constituency face cuts in their spending power of £1.8m next year.
They say the figures published by the ‘School Cuts’ campaign run by teaching unions, reveal that schools in Newbury will have £118 less to spend per pupil next year compared to this year.
Overall, they say nine in 10 schools across England will have less spending power next year compared to this year. More than two in three schools in England will have a lower spending power next year than in 2015.
“Under this Government, schools must choose between teaching children or heating classrooms,” said the Liberal Democrat shadow portfolio holder for education, young people and culture on West Berkshire Council, Erik Pattenden.
“Headteachers are warning that they will have to cut teaching assistants, mental health support and school clubs in order to make ends meet.
“Liberal Democrats know that a fair deal for Newbury means investing in our chidren’s futures. Parents and teachers will be rightly angry if the Chancellor announces more cuts to schools and colleges.”
The council said it was unable to comment directly on the figures quoted for Newbury schools nor on those calculated by school cuts, which indicate that 63 of the 76 schools in West Berkshire face cuts in 2023.
