Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi has today reaffirmed his concerns over cuts to school funding for secondary schools and some primary schools in Stratford-on-Avon. These proposed reductions were announced by the Department for Education in December as part of its ongoing consultation on changes to the National Funding Formula (NFF), a result of the Government’s commitment to reforming the system of school funding. The most recent phase of the consultation closes today (22nd March).

Commenting, Mr Zahawi said:

“I share the concerns of heads, teachers, governors, parents, and pupils within my constituency about the effect that the present funding proposals would have on their schools. This is particularly so in the case of secondary schools. Without taking rising costs and inflation into consideration, the proposals cut funding for secondary schools in my constituency by an average of 1.3% in the first year and 2.3% in the second and subsequent years of the proposed formula’s implementation.

“Since January, I have met with every head teacher in my constituency that has requested as such. They have made it very clear to me that the proposed cuts are simply unsustainable, especially given that most if not all schools have already undertaken significant measures to reduce costs in recent years in order to accommodate tightening budgets.

“I fully support the Department for Education’s commitment to delivering a fairer national funding formula for schools so that the current postcode lottery is abolished. I do feel, however, that the present proposals are not right for schools in my constituency and it is for this reason that I am supporting them in their opposition to the cuts.

“I very much hope that the Department takes strong notice of the consultation responses from those speaking on behalf of Stratford-on-Avon’s schools”.