Good news as Pupil Premium comes to Wales

The Welsh Liberal Democrats report:

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has welcomed the budget deal between Labour and the Liberal Democrats that will deliver an extra £450 directly to local schools for each child on free school meals.

The total package will mean that schools in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend will have an extra £5.8 million to spend from May next year, targeted on the poorest children, who are already under-achieving. This breaks down as £2.57m for Swansea, £1.53m for Bridgend and £1.71m for Neath Port Talbot.

Commenting on the outcome of the budget negotiations, Mr. Black said this was a good deal for schools that will go some way to closing the £600 per pupil funding gap between England and Wales:

“Investment in local schools is the best way to break down the cycle of poverty, poor health and a weak economy,” said Mr. Black. “Welsh Liberal Democrats have ensured that education has been given a much higher priority in the budget.

“The pupil premium will begin to break the link, school by school, community by community, between poverty and attainment that has dogged our education system for so long.”

Great to see something that’s worked well in England extended to Wales.