Richard Benyon welcomes Funding Boost for West Berkshire Schools

More children across West Berkshire will be able to access a world-class education thanks to a major funding boost.

The Conservative Government has confirmed that schools in West Berkshire will receive 4.34% more funding per pupil next year as part of the recent multi-billion investment in primary and secondary education.

Richard Benyon has welcomed this new funding, saying the commitment that every secondary school pupil will receive a minimum of £5,000 next year and every primary school pupil will receive a minimum of £4,000 by 2021-22 would reassure parents of the Government’s intention to deliver the best for their children.

This funding follows the Prime Minister’s announcement in August that the budget for schools and high needs would be increased by a total of over £14 billion over three years, rising to £52.2 billion by 2022-23. Schools and local authorities have just found out how the first part of that investment – £2.6 billion – will be allocated for the coming year.

The extra money, available from April, will ensure that per-pupil funding for all schools can rise at least in line with inflation and will deliver promised gains in full for areas that have been historically under-funded.

Commenting, Richard Benyon said:
‘As teachers in this area will know, I have been pushing for more money for West Berkshire schools ever since the new funding formula came into place – particularly for our small rural primaries which were unfairly disadvantaged.’‘I am delighted at this announcement.

The 4.34% per pupil funding boost next year will mean that every school in West Berkshire receives a budget increase, giving teachers, parents, and pupils the certainty they need to plan. I am proud that 95% of our schools are already rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and this increase will help to maintain and build upon this for the future’.

Media Release from Richard Benyon
Member of Parliament for Newbury A: Park Street Offices, Newbury, RG14 1EA | T: 01635 551070 | @RichardBenyonMP | E: [email protected]