Farron: Government must rethink damaging school cuts

New analysis published today shows that every state school in England will see budget cuts before 2020, even after new funding plans take effect. Tim will press the Schools Minister to rethink the government's plans at a meeting next week.

Research by the Education Policy Institute finds even schools benefiting from the funding shake-up will see their gains wiped out by budget pressures. Schools are facing rising student numbers while the government is forcing them to bear the brunt of rises in pay, pension and national insurance contributions.

The National Association of Head Teachers estimates that schools in Cumbria face £23million of cuts by the end of this parliament, which it warns could mean 625 teachers being cut.

Tim has organised a meeting next week with the schools minister Nick Gibb, to raise the plight of Cumbrian schools facing vast cuts. Tim's fellow Cumbrian MPs have also been invited to the meeting, which will also be attended by a local representative from the NAHT.

Tim said: "This government is slashing funding for our schools while spending millions on its own wasteful pet projects. While schools across Cumbria face crippling cuts, hundreds of millions are being spent on an ideological crusade to expand free schools and grammars.

"I look forward to meeting the Schools Minister next week along with my fellow Cumbrian MPs. The government's current plans would be disastrous for Cumbria. The government must see sense and rethink its plans."