Kate Green responds to PAC report on school funding

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to the Public Accounts Committee’s new report finding pupils in deprived areas have been hit hardest by school funding changes, said:

“Even before the pandemic, schools were facing a crisis of rising costs and funding cuts. With the gap in learning between children on free school meals and their peers widening throughout the pandemic it couldn’t be clearer the Government has got the wrong priorities for school funding.

“Labour is ambitious for every child. Our Children’s Recovery Plan - extending the school day for new activities, tutoring for all who need it, mental health support in every school - would deliver the new opportunities to learn, play and develop all children need.

“The Conservatives’ continual delays to the SEND review, their cut to the pupil premium and ‘feeble’ recovery plan show their continual disregard for children and their future opportunities.”