Priti Patel during her visit to Templars Academy for Get Witham Reading day 2023
Priti Patel MP welcomes increase in funding for schools in Witham
Priti Patel, the Member of Parliament for Witham, has welcomed the news of increased funding for schools in England, which will now be at a record level.
The Department for Education’s national funding formula allocation for schools for the year 2024-25 (published 17.07.23) totals £69,947,711 for primary and secondary schools across the Witham constituency. This is an increase of 2.9% in national funding formula allocation per pupil in the constituency, compared to 2023-24. The funding for 2024/25 will be at its highest ever level, both per pupil and overall. The total budget will now be over £59.6 billion, an increase of over £1.8 billion from this year and on top of the £3.9 billion rise in 2023-24, which will ensure schools have the funding to deliver a world class education system that supports all children to achieve their full potential.
In addition to the funding increases through the national funding formula, the Department for Education also announced additional funding for teachers’ pay costs as well as high needs funding which is aimed at supporting children with the most severe special education needs and disabilities. This funding is increasing by a further £440 million (4.3%) in 2024-25 compared to this year, with local authorities in Essex receiving £240 million as part of this, which is an increase of £13.4 million from 2023-24.
Commenting on this announcement, Priti said “I very much welcome the additional funding which will go into Witham schools and support the needs of our students. It is important that the Government invests in schools to support them through this difficult time and that students have the educational funding they need to succeed in life.
“I am also pleased that funding for special needs education has increased across Essex, which means that more support will go to children who really need it and the additional support it can provide. I will follow the allocation of this funding closely to ensure Essex County Council provides the utmost level of support for children with special education needs, across the Witham constituency.”
