Lib Dems deliver more money for Cheltenham schools (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems deliver more money for Cheltenham schools

October 12, 2011 3:32 PM

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood has today welcomed the government's announcement of extra money targeted at poor students. Liberal Democrat Children and Families Minister, Sarah Teather has announced the extra money each school will receive through the Pupil Premium this year - more than originally expected. The Pupil Premium was one of the flagship Liberal Democrat policies at last year's General Election and is designed to help schools and pupils in less well-off areas.

In Cheltenham, schools will get a total of more than £800,000 this year to support children from less well-off backgrounds, although they will be free to decide how to spend the money themselves.

The original plans for an extra £430 per pupil have been boosted by £100m, meaning that that every school in Cheltenham will now get £488 for every child on Free School Meals. News of the extra money comes after Sarah Teather recently announced that the total Pupil Premium funding for next year will rise to £1.25bn, double the amount in 2011-12.

Thanks to Liberal Democrats, it will rise again each year until 2014-15 when it will be worth £2.5bn.

Martin said: "It is a shocking fact that pupils from less well-off backgrounds are three times less likely to achieve five good GSCEs than their more well-off classmates.

"Education is the best way to end underachievement like this. We need to support children comprehensively from early years straight through to secondary school.

"That is why Liberal Democrats have ensured that in Cheltenham, schools will receive more than £800,000 as part of the Pupil Premium.

"This is more than expected and will make an even bigger difference for our children. I look forward to working with schools and teachers to make the Pupil Premium the success our children deserve it to be."

Commenting further, Sarah Teather said: "The Pupil Premium will benefit poorer pupils, providing extra money to the schools whose pupils who need it the most.

"This extra funding will help tackle inequality and enable schools to provide the extra support their pupils need to reach their full potential."

See Nick Clegg in Cheltenham