Hugh stands up for Kent Schools

HUGH ROBERTSON ATTACKS CHANCELLOR FOR MISLEADING PARENTS OVER SCHOOL FUNDING

Hugh Robertson has today attacked the Chancellor for misleading parents over increased funding for Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham.

Hugh was contacted by the Chairman of Governors of the Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham. Having heard the Chancellor’s announcement, in the Budget speech, that every head teacher would receive, on average, £180,000 to spend, he was extremely disappointed to learn that the figure was, in fact, £16,272.

The reasons for this are as follows:-

1. The Standard Grant, which they have always had, is being increased from £90,000 to £96,000 – an increase of £6,000.

2. The Capital Grant is being increased from £62,880 to £73,158 – an increase of £10,272. However, this money is ring fenced for expenditure in certain areas.

Therefore, the increase to the school is actually £16,272 of which £10,272 is only for expenditure on areas eligible for capital grant funding.

Hugh said: “There is a very strong feeling that the Chancellor has mislead parents who will be expecting Head Teachers to have £180,000 to spend as they wish.

“The total increase of £16,272 to Queen Elizabeth’s is nowhere near the figure announced in the Budget speech and the school rightly feels let down by the government.”