Robert has welcomed the announcement in the Autumn Statement that school funding is set to increase by £4.4 billion, describing it as “a welcome boost for West Oxfordshire’s schools”.
Following media reports ahead of the Autumn Statement which suggested school funding could be reduced to help balance the nation’s books, Robert alongside 27 other Conservative MPs signed a joint letter to the Chancellor warning of the ‘indefensible’ impacts a spending cut on education would have on schools at a time when schools are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
Robert was reassured to hear the Chancellor, during the Autumn Statement delivered in the House of Commons (17.11.22), confirm the Government’s commitment to increase spending on education.
Over the next two years, £4.4 billion in additional funding will be provided for children across the country to have the best possible teaching and support in their education setting. This increase in funding will mean that per pupil funding will stand at record levels.
Robert frequently visits local schools to hear directly from teachers and school staff about the challenges they are facing. Concerns raised with the MP include repairing the impact of Covid-19 and ensuring pupils are able to catch-up from missed teaching time. The Witney MP believes that this increase in funding will provide schools with the resources they need to continue providing a world-class education to all pupils in West Oxfordshire.
Commenting, Robert said: “I am delighted that the Chancellor has announced that school funding will increase over the next two years. I believe this is the right move to ensure schools continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and provide the best possible education to pupils.
I meet regularly with teachers and school staff across West Oxfordshire and am conscious of the challenges they have been facing. They work immensely hard to equip future generations with the education they need and deserve our full support in return. I am delighted that the Government has listened to the concerns I raised and has committed to this significant funding increase, which is a welcome boost for West Oxfordshire and local teachers”.
