Conservative Senedd member Andrew RT Davies has called on Plaid Cymru ministers to provide adequate funding to address school budget deficits in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Several Vale schools are in deficit, a situation Mr Davies said was the consequence of an “outdated funding formula imposed by Senedd ministers”.
He said schools were working hard to try and address shortfalls but warned it would be very difficult to solve the situation if fair funding is not provided.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Davies warned many schools are looking to ministers to secure additional funding in the current budget settlement round.
Mr Davies said:
“Vale schools have been underfunded for years, with Senedd ministers determining a budget settlement based on data from back in 1991.
“It will be virtually impossible for Vale schools to address deficits without a fair funding settlement.
“Plaid Cymru separatist ministers must stop wasting resources on their pro-Welsh independence pact with Sinn Fein and fund Vale schools instead.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below the Senedd’s record of proceedings from Wednesday 24th September
https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/16263#C771498
Andrew R.T. Davies
15:04:23
Minister, what are your asks of the finance Minister in supporting your portfolio? Many schools in the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend are in a deficit situation and are looking to you as a new Minister to secure additional funding in the current budget settlement round. So, could you identify, given your experience in the education sector, especially as a former representative of the National Association of Head Teachers, what your asks are of the finance Minister, so that headteachers can have confidence that they will see more resource in the new financial year?
Anna Brychan
15:04:51
Diolch. I can assure him certainly that education is a priority for the entire Government, and that I, as an advocate for support for it in all aspects, will be delivering with determination. I think it is important to note the funding settlements that are in place at the moment. He may remember, in the last budget negotiations, that an additional £112.8 million was sourced for local government, which resulted in £6.56 billion in core funding for local authorities, and that is an increase of 4.5 per cent.
I know that there are issues around funding in education and in our schools. I am determined to work with all partners to try and resolve some of the more outstanding issues, and assure him that the Vale of Glamorgan and all the other 21 authorities will be in my mind as I do that, because, as I said, we recognise the importance of education, and success in delivering for our learners is a key measure of our success as a Government.
Comments are closed