The borough's schools are to get an £8m funding boost following a Government announcement yesterday.

Funding for Sutton's schools will rise by 6.4 per cent in 2015/16 meaning the money per pupil will go from £4,360 to £4,637.

The increase was revealed yesterday as Education Minister David Laws MP announced changes in the way funding is delivered to schools.

Under the new measures, designed to better reflect local educational needs, Sutton is one of the big winners as it will receive the fourth largest increase in the country - from £124.7m to £132.6m.

The increase will be used to provide better resources for children across Sutton's schools.

Both the borough's MPs have welcomed the funding. Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow said: "This is great news for Sutton children and Sutton schools.  Our schools have been short changed for over forty years. 

"This announcement finally lays to rest the legacy of funding decisions made by councillors when the borough was run by the Conservatives in the 70s and 80s."

Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake added: "This is fantastic news. Nearly £8m extra for Sutton’s schools will mean Sutton’s children get an even better education."

Mr Laws announced the funding in Parliament yesterday and promised no areas would lose funding as a result. Other areas to benefit significantly include Croydon and Merton.

He said: "The school funding system we inherited is unfair.

"For too long, the school funding system has been based on historical data that was out of date and no longer reflected pupils' needs."

"I can confirm in 2015-16 we will take the first huge step to delivering this fairer national funding, and this will be the first time in a decade that funding has been allocated to local areas on the basis of the actual characteristics of their pupils and schools rather than simply on the basis of historic levels of spending."


TODAY'S TOP STORIES

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK