ALL ACROSS the country, political leaders from a number of parties are appealing to the government over massive cuts to education.
Under the current proposals, Essex County Council would see its Education Services Grant – which funds school improvements, education welfare services and national curriculum assessment – drop from £10.6million a year to £3million a year from August 2017.
And so, Essex education bosses have been written to Education Secretary Justine Greening and Chancellor Philip Hammond, outlining their concerns.
Ray Gooding, Essex county councillor responsible for education, said: “We have serious concerns about the impact and timing of this reduction in funding.
“It is vitally important that schools continue to be able to access the support…We are calling for the Government to think again about the timing of the reduction in funding.”
We asked the Thurrock portfolio holder for education, cllr James Halden if he had made a similar appeal to the government.
Cllr Halden said: “I will be making representations to the government through the national funding formula consultation.
“Stage 1 of the consultation closed on 17 April – before I became the Cabinet Member responsible for Education.
“When Stage 2 begins, I will do what this administration has always done – fight Thurrock’s corner to get the best deal for our young people.
“Figures which have been released recently do not take into consideration the funding floor and ceiling every school has, meaning budgets do not change by more than 1.5 per cent year-to-year.
“They are based on assumptions and the right and proper thing to do is to engage in the consultation.”
