West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has met with the Schools Minister to confirm record local school funding levels.

The MP met with Damian Hinds to discuss progress in school funding for local primary and secondary schools.

School funding is rising to more than £59.6 billion next year – the highest ever level in real terms per pupil – as confirmed by the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

In addition, Harriett was briefed on significant investment into the high needs budget, which will have risen to £10.5 billion next year – an increase of over 60 per cent to since 2019.

Harriett commented:

“School funding continues to rise year by year with specific funding of £2.2 million was handed out last year to schools in West Worcestershire alone to help with sudden extra costs resulting from inflationary pressures and schools getting an additional £2.3 million for the next academic year.

“I’ve been a supporter of the national f40 campaign to get a better share of funding for Worcestershire schools and I am pleased to see that progress continues to be made on this important challenge.

“Education attainment has significantly improved over the last decade with children in English schools now being rated as the best readers in the Western world.

“The percentage of schools rated as Good or Outstanding in West Worcestershire has gone up from 80 per cent in 2010 to 92 per cent in 2023 so thank you to all the teachers who have delivered this improvement.”