City MP Stephen Morgan today lambasted the “Conservatives’ staggering mathematical incompetence” which will see schools in Portsmouth lose over £1.2 million next year.
The Department for Education last month admitted to miscalculating the amounts of funding due to be granted to state schools in England next year, leading to a £370m error in the information they gave schools in July.
Analysis of updated funding figures released today by Labour has found that schools in Portsmouth will be on average £72,788 worse off or £62 per pupil down next year due to the Conservatives’ school budget maths bungle. The party’s analysis found that:
- Schools in the South East region are set to be over £61 million (£61,715,181) worse off in total, more than the average cut of £37 million.
- Schools in Portsmouth are set to be £1,281,708 worse off in total
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said the latest gaffe at the Department for Education will cause yet more pain for schools already struggling to balance budgets after years of uncertainty over long-term funding and threatened to further weaken the relationship between local schools and families.
The party said that trust in the schools system was already at breaking point due to the days of learning missed by children in recent years.
Labour pointed to the decisions taken by the Conservatives to open pubs before schools during covid, to prolong strike action by refusing to negotiate with trade unions and to cut funding for school rebuilding, leading to the dangerous RAAC concrete crisis which has affected hundreds of schools, causing many to shut their doors.
Shortly after revealing the error, Conservative Education Secretary Gillian Keegan raised eyebrows by claiming that her Party’s stunning by-election defeats in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth “did not show a swing to Labour”. The swing to Labour in Tamworth was 23.9 per cent, while the swing to Labour in Mid Bedfordshire was 20.5 per cent.
Commenting, MP for Portsmouth South Stephen Morgan said:
“Trust in this Government to support our city’s schools, teachers and school support staff is already at breaking point after 13 years of incompetence under Tory governments.
“It’s no wonder that the relationship between families, schools and government is at rock bottom. As these figures show, education simply isn’t a priority for the Conservatives.
“This gaffe by the government is going to cost Portsmouth schools over £1.2 million, at a time when many of them are already struggling to balance the books forcing them to reduce staff numbers, cut school trips and hold off improving their facilities.
“Labour will invest in all schools to drive high and rising standards in our classrooms, by recruiting thousands more world-class teachers and specialist mental health professionals – paid by ending private schools’ tax breaks.”
Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said:
“Rishi Sunak wants young people to learn maths to 18, but he ought to get his own house in order first and teach Conservative Education Ministers how to count.
“Ministers’ staggering mathematical incompetence follows hot on the heels of disruption caused by the Conservatives which has pushed our schools to breaking point.
“We will start by recruiting 6,500 more teachers and put mental health counsellors in every secondary school, paid for by ending private schools’ tax breaks.”
Mr Morgan has made investing in our city’s schools one of his priorities, having previously served as Labour’s Shadow Minister for Schools. He has visited every school in his constituency and continues to campaign for funded breakfast clubs in every primary school, specialist mental health professionals and the recruitment of more world class teachers into Portsmouth schools.
