Government cuts £1m from Shropshire schools funding
Shropshire's schools have had their annual Government funding cut by £1 million, it has been revealed.
About £7 million has been set aside for schools in the Shropshire Council area – with up to £1 million funding for new school places and just over £6 million to repair school buildings.
But officials at Shirehall have said the settlement represents a £1 million cut in funding compared to last year, although they said it was too early to determine what impact it would have on education in the county.
Telford & Wrekin will receive just short of £4.5 million from the Government with £1.3 million for funding extra school places and £3 million for building upgrades, according to data on the Department for Education website.
They are part of funding packages revealed by Education Secretary Michael Gove on Friday, which has seen £4 billion set aside to help schools needing extra places following a detailed study of all local authorities in England.
Mr Gove said the study would allow investment to be 'accurately targeted' for the first time – but warned that budgets from local authorities could go down as well as up, based on the data.
A spokesman for Shropshire Council said: "We are still looking through the figures but it would appear that we are receiving about £1 million less than last year.
"However we need to look at the figures in more detail. It is too early to say exactly what the effects of this announcement are for Shropshire."
Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham, said the money handed over would be vital to help spruce up school buildings in need of repair.
He said: "This extra money for school buildings will be very welcome in Shropshire.
"Too many of our schools are in a bad state of repair and many children face being left without a school to go to as a result of the places shortage left by the previous government.
"It is great news that the Government has found extra funds to improve school buildings here in Shropshire. The extra places this money will provide will help more parents find the right school for their child."
The region will also be able to ask the Targeted Basic Need programme for money for new schools where more places are needed or to expand good and outstanding schools.
