The Liberal Democrats have announced that they will spend £10 billion a year more on schools and hire 20,000 more teachers by the end of the next Parliament.

Figures from the National Education Union show that next year (2020/21), schools in Oldham will have seen their budgets cut by over £12.million n real terms since 2015, once increasing pupil numbers are taken into account.

This is equivalent to a cut of in funding per pupil of £346 in Oldham East and Saddleworth and £287 Oldham West and Royton since 2015 per pupil. Under current proposals nearly 1 in 4 schools in Oldham West and Royton will see further cuts next year. In Oldham East and Saddleworth that is 1 in 3 schools

Councillor Garth Harkness, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Oldham West and Royton said:  

“Young people across Oldham deserve world-class schools and colleges so they can get the best start in life.

“But instead, the Conservatives have cut school budgets to the bone. Across the country, hundreds of schools rely on handouts from local parents or cut staff numbers to make ends meet. Some schools are even shortening the school day because they can’t afford to keep children at school for a five-day week.

Councillor Sam Al- Hamdani, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Oldham East and Saddleworth commented:

“Every school in Oldham and Saddleworth has had cuts every year since 2015 and 1 in 3 schools will see more cuts next year. As the next MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth I will fight to reverse school cuts so that our children can get the resources they need to learn.

“Liberal Democrats will build a brighter future for every child in Oldham East and By stopping Brexit, we can spend £10 billion a year more on schools and recruit 20,000 more teachers to give every child the skills they need to succeed in life.”

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