'Conservative government blunders costs Medway schools thousands' - say local Liberal Democrats

A huge error by the Conservative Government has left local schools in Medway with thousands of pounds less than promised.

Schools had initially been told they would receive a 2.7% budget rise for the 2024/25 school year in July. However in October it was revealed schools would only get a 1.9% rise. The difference is equal to roughly £50 per pupil. Across all the schools in Medway this equates to thousands of pounds lost. Nationwide it is equivalent to £370 million, or over 9000 full time teachers.

Stuart Bourne, for Medway Liberal Democrats said; “It is unbelievable that in July 2023 it was announced that English schools would receive a 2.7% increase in their budget for the 2024/25 school year. The figure being miscalculated and 2 months later in October it was announced that schools will only get a 1.9% budget rise. Medway's schools will miss out on much needed funds.

This blunder just shows up the staggering incompetence of this Conservative Government. Just a few weeks after the RAAC concrete scandal, the Conservatives have shown yet again that we cannot trust them to look after our schools.

The Government is yet to confirm what schools will receive next year. In the 2 month period it took for the Conservative Government to correct the error many schools will have drawn up their budget for 2024/25 based on the additional funding they thought they were getting. They may now have to rethink their budget for next year.

Yet another Conservative blunder has caused a lot of unnecessary work and stress for our town's already over-stretched schools and teachers.”

ENDS