Julian Smith, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, has welcomed the announcement in the Chancellor’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement that the schools budget is to be protected in real terms over the next five years.
The Government has also committed to helping more schools become Academies and has pledged to open 500 new free schools and University Technical Colleges over the Parliament.
The announcement that a new National Funding Formula will be introduced to schools from 2017, phasing out the arbitrary and unfair system which means a child from a disadvantaged background in one school can receive half the funding as a child in the same circumstances in another school, will have a positive impact on North Yorkshire schools.
Julian Smith said: ‘I was very pleased to hear the announcement that a National Funding Formula will be introduced. For too long, schools in North Yorkshire have received less funding per pupil than other local authorities. I have followed and supported this campaign throughout the last Parliament and in recent months and I welcome this exciting announcement. With Fair Funding, it is estimated that North Yorkshire schools could receive up to 3.1% more per pupil.’
