Where will school cash come from?

EARLIER this year, Theresa May and the Conservative Education Minister announced that £1.2bn was being made available for education.

It came after teachers, parents, unions, school governors, opposition MPs and some from their own party voiced deep-seated concerns about the allocation of government money for our schools.

It sounds like a real windfall but, as it does not come from the Treasury, it cannot be new or extra money so it must be redistributed from within the existing allocation for education services. The question arises as to what the government is going to cut to meet this commitment. So far, plans to open several more “free” schools have been stopped, but that won’t save too much.

This must be a relief in some areas where these would have caused other schools to close but, at the start of a new school term, there is nothing to show that any school’s budget in North Tyneside has increased as a result of this £1.2bn.

Investment in more teachers, support staff and modern equipment in every school is the fairest and best way to improve educational standards, and widening the choices for every child and young person has to be a priority, instead of decreasing the range of courses and vocational examination opportunities as the Conservatives are doing.

Transparency over the £1.2bn would be helpful.

Coun MURIEL GREEN Weetslade ward