Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has questioned Ministers from the Department of Education on school funding in Clacton. This took place at DfE Questions on 2nd March 2020, the transcript of which is below:
Giles Watling MP:
“What steps his Department is taking to ensure that schools receive equitable levels of funding under the national funding formula.”
Secretary of State for Education (Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP)
“We are investing more in schools and high needs over the next three years, starting with an additional £2.6 billion, including £780 million for high needs in 2020-21 and £1.5 billion for the cost of the teacher pension scheme.”
Giles Watling MP:
“I thank my right hon. Friend for his earlier answer. The national funding formula is letting down some of Clacton’s schools financially because of the way Essex County Council is rolling it out. Can the Department not have oversight and work with the council to rebalance the books in favour of our hard-pressed schools in Clacton?"
Secretary of State for Education (Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP)
“I hope that Essex County Council will move towards the national funding formula as rapidly as possible and will see it as clear guidance on what per-pupil funding it should be giving at every school. Part of the reason we have introduced a basic minimum at primary and secondary school level is to ensure that those minimums are delivered to every school across the country, but I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this in greater detail.”