Almost £2m to be sliced from school support

After months of consultation, ministers have agreed to forge ahead with cuts to the Education Services Grant. The government has agreed to slice £200m from the grants nationally.

The cash is used to pay for services to support pupils, such as clothing, extra curricular activities, performing arts and outdoor education.

Kirklees Council’s cabinet member for children’s services Shabir Pandor said: “This is going to have a massive impact on the way we support our schools. Many have become academies so it no longer has that link with the local authority, yet at the same time we have a duty to help and support them to help make improvements.”

He said the government was not putting money into areas where there is greater poverty. “They should be putting money in school improvements,” he added.

“We will do what we can and work with the schools. We are proud of our schools and we have great staff and head teachers. Yet the government continues to cut back on resources.”