Education Secretary: Schools ‘wrong’ to close early on Friday
BIRMINGHAM schools are wrong to close early on Fridays, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told the Birmingham Post.
He said there had “never been any need for the early closures”, as he announced the Government was giving West Midlands schools a £175 million funding increase.
About 25 Birmingham primaries close or have announced plans to close on
Friday afternoons, blaming funding shortages.
Mr Williamson said: “This shouldn’t be happening. Schools that are doing that I think are doing the wrong thing.”
But he said he agreed that “money has been tight” for many schools. “Over the last few years what we’ve seen is massive gains in terms of the attainment of children. Standards have been increasing, attainment is going up.
“Children from disadvantaged backgrounds have been closing the attainment gap. So there have been lots of positives.
“But I recognise too, speaking to teachers and headteachers, that money has been tight.
“So what we’re doing is, we’re addressing that with this investment.
“But there isn’t any reason why schools should be closing. Schools need to deliver their curriculum, and the education that is needed for children.
“There never has been a reason for schools closing, after this investment there certainly is no reason for schools closing for any part of the week.” Earlier this year, 250 pupils and parents from Birmingham held a protest in Westminster to highlight the early closures.
Four Birmingham school pupils, including Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips’s son Danny, were ‘left’ on the steps of 10 Downing Street to make the point that they should have been in school.
The Government has announced it is providing an additional £175 million in funding for schools across the West Midlands region, as well as extra money to help schools pay increased pension costs. There will be a new minimum funding rate of £5,000-per-pupil for secondary schools, and £3,750-per-pupil for primary schools, rising to £4,000 in 2021.
It is part of Prime Minister Johnson’s plan to increase funding for police, schools and hospitals. Mr Johnson is keen to demonstrate that while he is attempting to deliver Brexit, he is also committed to improving public services.