Torridge and West Devon Liberal Democrats
PeopleLiberal Democrats Representatives and Prospective Candidates at all levels of government. Adam Symons
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Local NewsOctober 2011For more information on any of the news items below contact our Parliamentary Spokesman Adam Symons on 01237 431498 or 07786 277470
Quarter of a Million Pounds in New MoneyBideford schools Benefit as Lib Dems Pupil Premium kicks inFriday 14 October 2011 Bideford schools can expect a significant increase in expected funding this year as the Lib Dem’s Pupil Premium policy kicks in to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Following the Lib Dems Secretary of State’s announcement (Sarah Teather MP) that each school will receive extra money this year through the Pupil Premium policy, Torridge Lib Dem Leader, Adam Symons, can reveal that many schools in Torridge will receive significant amounts of extra cash. Adam said: “The schools in the Bideford area will receive an extra £1/4 million pounds in extra funding this year thanks to the Lib Dems pupil premium policy. For years I have been saying that Devon’s schools have been underfunded, and now we have the chance to do something about it. Bideford College is the biggest winner, receiving just under £100,000 of extra funding, the largest increase of any school in the whole of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Other Bideford schools have also received significant increases in funding with East-the-Water, Pynes, West Croft and St. Mary’s all receiving around an extra £30,000 this year. Great Torrington and Holsworthy schools also benefit, with Great Torrington schools receiving an extra £87,000 and Holsworthy schools receiving an extra £37,000. The evidence shows that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are three times less likely to achieve five good GCSEs than other children. This funding helps schools to redress this imbalance. Education is the best way to end the underachievement of disadvantaged pupils through supporting children comprehensively from early years straight through to secondary school. The amount is more than expected and will make an even bigger difference for our children.” In Devon, schools will get a total of just over £5 million to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The original plans for an extra £430 per pupil have been boosted by £100m, meaning that that every school in Devon will now get nearly £500 for every child on Free School Meals. News of the extra money comes after Sarah Teather recently announced that the total Pupil Premium funding for next year will rise to £1.25bn, double the amount in 2011-12. Thanks to Liberal Democrats, it will rise again each year until 2014-15 when it will be worth £2.5bn. More Than Expected Pupil PremiumDevon Children Will BenefitThursday 13 October 2011 Liberal Democrat Children and Families Minister, Sarah Teather has announced the extra money each school will receive through the Pupil Premium this year will be more than originally expected. In Devon, schools will get a total of just over £5 million to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The original plans for an extra £430 per pupil have been boosted by £100m, meaning that that every school in Devon will now get nearly £500 for every child on Free School Meals. News of the extra money comes after Sarah Teather recently announced that the total Pupil Premium funding for next year will rise to £1.25bn, double the amount in 2011-12. Thanks to Liberal Democrats, it will rise again each year until 2014-15 when it will be worth £2.5bn. Commenting, Cllr Alison Clish-Green (West Devon Borough Council) said: “It is a shocking fact that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are three times less likely to achieve five good GSCEs than their more well-off classmates. “Education is the best way to end the underachievement of disadvantaged pupils through supporting children comprehensively from early years straight through to secondary school. “The amount is more than expected and will make an even bigger difference for our children.” Commenting further, Sarah Teather said: “The Pupil Premium will benefit poorer pupils, providing extra money directly for those pupils who need it the most. “This extra funding will help tackle inequality and enable schools to provide the extra support their pupils need to reach their full potential.” Note: The Pupil Premium is one of the four key commitments the Liberal Democrats fought the 2010 General Election on and featured on the front page of the Liberal Democrat manifesto. It is designed to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and is allocated on the basis of pupils on Free School Meals to schools, which they can spend as they believe best supports children from disadvantaged backgrounds in their schools. Children who have been looked after by local authorities for more than six months also qualify for the Pupil Premium. The funding has increased from initial estimates of £430 per pupil to £488 per pupil as a lower than expected number of pupils had registered for Free School Meals. As this meant not all of the £625m available in 2011-12 had so far been allocated, it was used to increase the per-pupil funding. The national, regional, local authority and school level allocations of the Pupil Premium for 2011-12 can be found online.
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