The 'non-reply, reply' to questions over cuts

MPs united . . . Debbie Abrahams (left) with fellow Oldham MPs Jim McMahon and Angela Rayner

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MP Debbie Abrahams has expressed disappointment with the reply from a Government minister about cuts in funding for schools across Oldham, branding his response a "non-reply, reply".

In May last year, the MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, along with fellow Oldham MPs Jim McMahon and Angela Rayner, met with schools minister Nick Gibb to discuss the challenges facing schools in Oldham and the findings of the Oldham Education Commission.

Since then the Government made proposals to change the school Funding Formula which will see Oldham face deep cuts of 10 per cent per pupil between 2015/16 to 2019/20.

The National Audit Office found in December that schools will have to make £3billion worth of savings by 2019/20. On average, schools will see an eight per cent decrease in their budgets over the next five years.

Research, led by the National Union of Teachers, shows schools in Oldham will be stripped of £17million, which could lead to the loss of more than 450 teaching staff by 2020.

Mrs Abrahams said: "The new formula will see income per pupil in Oldham East and Saddleworth, for example, cut by a massive £490 per pupil by 2019/20.

"I wrote to the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, pointing out that the Conservative Manifesto in 2015 stated: 'Under a future Conservative Government, the amount of money following your child into school will be protected'.

"But in reality, the maintenance of per pupil funding in cash terms has not been realised in 38 of 49 schools in Oldham East and Saddleworth alone.

"Unfortunately the response I received was deeply disappointing and did absolutely nothing to address the specific concerns I raised about the effect of the cuts on schools in Oldham. In fact, I would go so far as to say it was a non-reply, reply.

"Firstly, the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, delegated the response back down to Schools Minister Nick Gibb who proceeded to avoid answering the issue around how much Oldham schools would lose due to the proposed new formula.

"Instead, he preferred to detail how the Government have set an ambition to save at least £1bn from schools in non-staffing costs by 2019-20.

INSULT

"And, to add insult to injury, he sent his reply on 21st March which included information about a public consultation on the new formula which ended on 22nd March."

She added: "I believe every child deserves the best possible start in life, and that an excellent education is fundamental to this. These unashamed Tory cuts to schools' budget will mean that, for many children, this is simply not possible.

"The new National Funding Formula will make it extremely difficult for schools to not only meet the demand of pupil numbers increasing but also to address the growing crisis in teacher recruitment and retention.

"Many schools are already reporting losing staff as a result of these funding cuts. This will make it all but impossible for the Government to deliver on key pledges, including that all secondary schools should have staff trained to help address the mental health needs of pupils."

By 2020, all of Oldham's 99 schools will see a reduction in central government funding - Waterhead Academy will see the most, at £920,000.

Last October, Ms Greening said Oldham would be one of six towns and cities in England to benefit from a £60million scheme to promote social mobility.

Oldham is due to receive £16million as part of this programme. However, this programme is undermined by the £17million loss to school budgets over the coming years.