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30
Jan 2024
Andrew Jones MP hits back after Lib Dem rival Tom Gordon attacks schools funding
The Liberal Democrat bidding to be Harrogate and Knaresborough's next MP has accused the government of failing local children after new figures revealed a decline in funding per pupil.
The National Education Union, which is the UK's largest education union, published a county-by-county breakdown of school funding statistics last week.
It revealed school funding in North Yorkshire was set to fall by £14 million in 2024/25 compared with this year and 286 of 340 schools in the county will have less to spend. The cut will equate to a £188 reduction in funding per pupil in North Yorkshire.
Tom Gordon, who will bid to unseat Conservative Andrew Jones at the next general election, said the Lib Dems were calling for the government to review school funding after the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the purchasing power of school budgets in 2024 will still be about 4% lower than in 2010.
Mr Gordon said:
'Hard facts'
But Mr Jones disputed the figures and said recent investments to local schools and colleges in painted a different picture.
He said:
He added:
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