Medway Labour and Cooperative Group today focused on how the damaging energy crisis is presenting yet another financial challenge to local schools that were already enduring per-pupil funding cuts of almost 10% since the Conservatives first formed a government in 2010.  School budgets are already under pressure from government funding cuts, recruitment challenges, increasing costs for special needs, Covid-related costs, an unfunded pay award and National Insurance increases.  There has been no real-terms increase in school budgets for twelve years and the fuel cost increase will add to the damaging financial pressures on schools.

Cllr Pat Cooper, Member for Gillingham North and Member of the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee said:

“As a school governor I have seen first-hand the effects of the real-terms cuts to education during this Conservative government. In the Conservative leadership contest we saw absolutely no ideas for the future of our children’s education, and promising tax cuts for the richest as Liz Truss has done will do nothing to solve the challenges facing our schools.  Tax cuts for the well-off will not trickle down to Medway schools.”

Cllr Clive Johnson, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Shadow Cabinet Member for Children and Young People added:

“Labour’s Children Recovery Plan has outlined our vision for all schools post-Covid. Our plan will ensure increased small group tuition for all students, accessible mental health support and see no children going hungry. 

“In order to achieve these vital objectives, more must also be done to step up and help our children’s schools which are struggling with rising energy costs.  School budgets are well behind inflation which is spiralling out of control and the announcement of the temporary cap on energy costs will do little to address the threat to the future of Medway’s children. 

“I want to see Medway’s MPs and Medway Council end their silence and stand up for our children to ensure that the impact of increasing costs does not include larger class sizes, less subject choice and lower levels of support.  

“The Medway Tory decision to cut vouchers for free school meals over the summer shows they do not understand what is at stake.  A Labour Medway administration will always put our young people, and their future, first.”