Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, met with three Cumbrian primary schools locally and in London to engage the next generation of citizens with our democratic processes. These were Beaconside Church of England Primary School and Acorn Nursery, Penrith; North Lakes School, Penrith; and Orton Church of England School, Orton.
This coincided with a Government announcement, committing and additional £2,043,276 to schools in Penrith and The Border, as part of £2 billion this year and next for primary schools and secondary schools in England, which was welcomed by the Cumbrian MP. Every state school in England will receive extra cash following the additional investment. A typical primary school will receive approximately an extra £35,000, and £200,000 for a typical secondary school.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:
“Making sure our young folk are properly aware of our political processes, what an MP does and how they can engage in the system is a crucial part of producing knowledgeable conscientious citizens of the future.
“But beyond that it is also a really enjoyable aspect of being an MP. I’m continually impressed by how thoughtful and engaged our youngsters are and I really relish the chance to hear about the issues on their minds.
“I’m committed to supporting our young people reach their full potential which is why I am proud to welcome £2,043,276 in extra funding for schools in Penrith and The Border. Our Government is committed to providing a world-class education and delivering opportunities for all – wherever they come from and whatever their background.”
Recently, the Cumbrian MP, visited Beaconside and North Lakes primary schools in Penrith to answer student questions, help them better understand what MPs do and show them how they can become engaged in politics.
At North Lakes’ whole-school assembly, Dr Hudson was pleased to learn how they have adopted the “Secrets of Success” model, created by Education specialist Chris Quigley, to show how children can lead happy, fulfilled, and successful lives.
At Beaconside Dr Hudson was privileged to undertake a tour of the school where he met with pupils and staff.
Prior to this, Dr Hudson welcomed Orton Church of England School pupils to tour the Houses of Parliament before sitting down with them for an in-depth question and answer session.
The MP has demonstrated his commitment to helping rural schools access our democratic institutions on many occasions, no matter how small or remote they are. More details here: www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/rural-primary-schools-see-democracy-action-veterinary-mp-during-london-trips
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan added:
“I am hugely grateful to all our fantastic teachers, school leaders and support staff for all their incredible work and the immeasurable impact they have on the lives of children every day.
“Teachers must continue to have the resources they need, and this extra cash will make sure that they do.
“With school funding set to be at its highest ever level next year, even accounting for inflation, parents everywhere can be confident schools are being supported to let teachers get on and do what they do best - teach.”
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has highlighted the £2 billion uplift will mean 2024–25 will be the highest spending year in history for schools. In total the schools budget will be £58.8 billion in 2024-25 – meaning the Conservative Government is putting more into school than ever before. It also means school funding is set to rise faster than forecast inflation in both 2023–24 and 2024–25.
Schools will receive their first payment by 10 May 2023 and will be able to choose how best to invest the extra funding, including to pay for teacher salary uplifts and teaching assistants.
The remainder of the £2 billion funding boost will be used to increase Pupil Premium funding rates, which are rising by five per cent in 2023–24. This extra funding will support disadvantaged pupils, local authorities’ high needs budgets, and special schools, making sure every child with special educational needs and disabilities receives the support and high-quality education they deserve
