Conservatives can’t add up

A huge error by the Conservative Government has left local schools in Reading with over a million pounds less than promised.

Schools had initially been told they would receive a 2.7% budget rise for the 2024/25 school year in July. However in October it was revealed schools would only get a 1.9% rise. The difference is equal to roughly £50 per pupil.

Across all the schools in Reading this equates to a £1,078,000 loss.

Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West & Mid-Berkshire, Helen Belcher said:

“This blunder just shows up the staggering incompetence of this Conservative Government. Just a few weeks after the RAAC concrete scandal, the Conservatives have shown yet again that we cannot trust them to look after our schools.”

“Schools have spent 2 months expecting to receive significantly more funding than they will actually get next year. The Government has not even given them their correct funding figure yet.”

“As a result schools may have to redraw their budgets for the upcoming year.”

“Yet another Conservative blunder has caused a lot of unnecessary work and stress for our already over-stretched schools and teachers.”