February 6th, 2024.



Schools in East Sussex are set to be hit with a £10.5 million cut to spending power in 2024/25, data from the National Education Union (NEU) reveals. It means that funding per pupil in East Sussex will be cut by £165 in 2024/25 compared with 2023/24.

There are 174 schools in East Sussex, 150 of which will have less spending power in 2024/25 as a result of these funding cuts.

For Primary schools in the county, there will be a £135 reduction in spending power per pupil over the next financial year, and in Secondary schools there will be a £230 fall in spending power per pupil.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Lewes constituency, James MacCleary, (pictured), has warned that the fall in spending power will push already stretched school budgets to the brink, with a worse educational experience for pupils and worse outcomes.

It comes as new data released today shows that this Conservative Government has cut the annual growth in funding in cash terms from 8% in 2023/4 to 3.1% in 2024/5.

The Lib Dems are calling for the government to review school funding after the IFS has concluded that the purchasing power of school budgets in 2024 will still be about 4% lower than in 2010.

James MacCleary, explains: “I'm sure there will be many parents like me with children in local schools who will be horrified to hear that the government is cutting funding for our children's education again. Local schools are already struggling to make ends meet and this will come as another blow to teachers and parents.

"This Conservative government has failed local children. Parents in our community should not have to send their children to schools which have had their funding decimated by a Conservative government that has lost interest in providing high-quality education.

“Investing in education is investing in our future, but this Conservative government has let school buildings crumble and overseen a severe shortage of teachers. Far from preparing the next generation for the future, ministers have totally abandoned them.

“I believe that education is central to building a successful future for everyone in our society. These cuts are affecting my children and the children of everyone else using state schools in our county. I will not stand quietly by while the Conservatives abandon the next generation. We need urgent investment in our schools and a change of direction from the government."