Tory MPs speak out over school funding pressures ahead of spending review

Labour MP calls on minister to donate raffle prize for school fundraiser for 'essentials'

Britain's Education Secretary Damian Hinds arrives in Downing street (AFP)

Conservative MPs have spoken out over school funding pressures as the education secretary reiterated that he will make a "strong case" for more cash ahead of the spending review.

A string of MPs from across the House raised the issue of funding during education questions in the Commons as education ministers faced increasing pressure.

Damian Hinds insisted that his department will put forward a “strong case” for education in the run up to the spending review, adding that he recognised that finances are "challenging".

Rebecca Pow, Conservative MP for Taunton Deane, called for a meeting with Mr Hinds to discuss concerns raised by a “raft of schools” experiencing funding pressures in her constituency.

She said: “Urgently, teachers are coming to me increasingly about the funding pressures they are under because we put more and more on their shoulders.”

William Wragg, Tory MP for Hazel Grove, called on Mr Hinds to have “constructive discussions” with the chancellor on “apprenticeship levy, per pupil funding and the high needs budget".

Tory Sir Desmond Swayne, of New Forest West, added: "Amounts per pupil are being top sliced in order to meet a deficit in the high needs block, so the amount actually going into the school accounts per pupil isn't nearly as impressive is it?"

Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Mr Hinds said: “We are going to be putting forward a strong case for education on which so much else depends both in our society and in our economy.”

Responding to Sir Desmond Swayne, he added: “There is pressure on high needs budgets, actually the high needs budget has gone up from £5bn to £6bn over the last few years, but there are still those pressures as he rightly says. That is why it was so important to secure the additional £250m that we announced at the end of last year."

One Labour MP asked Mr Hinds if he would donate a raffle prize for a fundraiser being held by parents at a primary school in his constituency to raise money “for the essentials”.

Phil Wilson, who represents Sedgefield, said: “Since real terms increase in funding isn't coming from his department, can the secretary of state, would he care to contribute a raffle prize to help raise money to ensure local people continue to receive the education they deserve?"

Headteachers have said an extra £5.7bn is needed in the next spending review to stop schools shutting down.