CLARKE TELLS GUILDFORD MP LOCAL SCHOOLS MAY NOT RECEIVE EXTRA FUNDING ANNOUNCED IN BUDGET

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 8th Apr 2004

Sue Doughty welcomed the Budget announcement of the additional funding which will be provided to each Head Teacher. However after questioning the Secretary of State for Education in Parliament yesterday, Sue Doughty has discovered that Guildford schools may miss out on their fair share.

Sue said:

"Yet again behind the headlines of a Government announcement of more funding for pupils it seems there is no guarantee that Guildford schools and pupils will receive their share.

"At a time when local teachers are warning me that the Government is leaving them with difficult choices between staff cuts or going into debt the Government are not listening. In my recent parliamentary debate with Education Minster, David Milliband, legitimate concerns for our Guildford schools were brushed aside with a complacent disregard for parliamentary accountability.

"Unfortunately I have to tell our schools not to start counting their chickens yet. When the funding has been distributed we may find it has all gone to Labour marginals with little left for our pupils here in Guildford."