Cumbria's schools face budget bombshell

Local MP Tim Farron says the government must not jeopardise our children's future through massive cuts to education, as leading industry bodies suggest Cumbria's schools will have their budgets slashed by £17.5 million by 2020.

Research by the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers has set out the expected cuts schools face by 2020. In Cumbria, they predict that schools will face a £17.5 million cut to budgets by 2020 - the equivalent of almost £300 per pupil. The bodies warn that this could lead to almost 500 teachers across the county being laid off.

A number of schools in South Lakeland face hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cuts by 2020.

Tim said: "I regularly see for myself what a fantastic job our teachers do, but if the government slashes funding for schools, it is our children's education that will pay the price. Budget cuts mean cuts to teacher numbers, leading to larger class sizes and less individual attention for students. The government must commit to properly funding local schools, so our students have the best possible chance in life."

For more information, go to:
http://www.schoolcuts.org.uk/#/