Liberal Democrats pledge £ 25m extra for Surrey schools (Mole Valley Liberal Democrats)

Mole Valley Liberal Democrats <info@molevalleylibdems.org.uk>

Liberal Democrats pledge £ 25m extra for Surrey schools

February 3, 2010 4:00 PM
Originally published by Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats

Cllr Jonathan Lees

The Liberal Democrats have announced a major funding commitment that would boost education in Surrey. Nick Clegg has given a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment for a Pupil Premium that would mean investing around £ 25m of extra cash in Surrey schools, raising the funding for disadvantaged pupils to private school levels.

Cllr Jonathan Lees, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Epsom & Ewell said: "I am delighted with this announcement. In one of the most prosperous areas of the country it's nothing short of a scandal that children in Surrey have continued to lose out under Labour. Some of the schools here receive significantly less money than the national average and something must be done".

"Although Surrey is fortunate in many areas, there are still real pockets of deprivation where children need all the help they can get up to deal with learning on a level footing. Even now, there are some children whose families struggle to even find the bus fare to ensure they attend school every day. Under our plans, the extra Pupil Premium would be used to cut class sizes and provide more individual support."

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: "With this unfairness in funding it's no surprise there is such a gap in achievement between children from the poorest backgrounds and those families who are better off. Only when we get education funding back on track will be able to give all our children the fair start they deserve."

To give every child a fair start, Liberal Democrats will spend an extra £2.5bn on schools. The money will be targeted at schools taking on children who need more help, but will benefit every child in every school. The cash can be used to cut class sizes and provide one-to-one tuition or catch-up classes, ensuring every child gets the individual attention they need. An average primary school could cut class sizes to 20. An average secondary school could see classes of just 16.