Bury North MP James Frith calls on government to increase funding for schools

In a letter addressed to Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, and the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, ahead of Monday's autumn budget, the Labour MPs claim that cuts to pupil funding have had an enormous impact on education and have left schools 'in crisis'.

The letter, which was co-ordinated by Mr Frith, calls on the government to reverse school cuts, as well as providing more money for high needs, early years, and post-16 education, and developing a five-year funding plan.

It comes six months after headteachers from across Bury signed a letter highlighting the funding crisis facing the borough’s schools.

Mr Frith said: "Education funding has taken a massive hit in real terms since 2010, not just in our schools but also in our nurseries and colleges, which have been hit even harder. This has led to a crisis in the education sector, with nurseries forced to charge parents to make up the shortfall, schools and colleges unable to fund basic equipment and support for students and an exodus of teachers demoralised by stagnant wages and increasing demands to do more with less.

"It has also particularly affected the most vulnerable students, those with special educational needs and disabilities, who've seen their support chipped away and become harder to access."

The full letter from the MPs reads:

"Dear Secretary of State,

We are writing about the autumn budget and how it must deliver more funding for schools.

Since 2010, there has been an 8 per cent cut in real terms for per pupil funding. This has had an enormous impact on education, leaving our schools in crisis.

We call on you to support the following to urgently address the funding crisis.

1. Reverse school cuts now

This academic year began with more cuts to education provision and staffing in schools. The budget must ensure that every school is guaranteed at least the same money per pupil, in real terms, as they did in 2015.

2. New money from the Treasury

Existing Government plans mean real terms cuts in funding and education provision. The budget must provide genuinely new money for schools, not funds taken from other areas of education spending. At least £2.8 billion more is required every year just to maintain funding in real terms in the face of inflation, cost increases and rising pupil numbers.

3. High needs, early years and post-16 education fairly funded

Funding must also be increased for high needs and early years pupils and post-16 students, who have suffered even bigger cuts since 2010.

4. A five-year funding plan

With pupil numbers rising and costs increasing, schools need a guarantee of how much money they will receive for the next five years.

5. Historic underfunding addressed

Schools in historically underfunded areas must receive extra by levelling them up to better funded areas. Fair funding won't be achieved by taking money away from some schools to give to others. There must be enough new money to make a difference for every pupil, wherever they live.

6. All pay rises fully funded and implemented

The Government must implement the recommendations of the independent School Teachers’ Review Body in full. The cost of pay awards and agreements for teachers, sixth form college tutors and support staff must be fully funded, so that schools and colleges are not forced to make cuts to give staff a pay rise.

We hope you will support these reasonable requests and ensure that our schools and staff receive the funding they need to ensure that all children and young people have the best possible education

Yours sincerely,

James Frith, MP for Bury North

Barbara Keeley, MP for Worsley & Eccles South

Sir David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East

Yvonne Fovargue, MP for Makerfield

Ann Coffey, MP for Stockport

Kate Green, MP for Stretford & Urmston

Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West & Royton

Liz McInnes, MP for Heywood & Middleton

Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central

Angela Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton & Reddish

Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge & Hyde

Jo Platt, MP for Leigh

Mike Kane, MP for Wythenshawe & Sale East

Jeff Smith, MP for Manchester Withington

Ivan Lewis, MP for Bury South

Afzal Khan, MP for Manchester Gorton

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East & Saddleworth

Tony Lloyd, MP for Rochdale"