North Cornwall MP raises alarm over school funding crisis

Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for North Cornwall, has expressed deep concern over the escalating financial pressures facing local schools due to unfunded increases in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and mandated teacher salary rises.

Recent visits to St Mawgan and Nanstallon Primary Schools, as well as Launceston, Bodmin and Wadebridge Secondary Schools in his constituency have highlighted the severity of the situation - all grappling with significant budget shortfalls.

The schools are not receiving government support to cover the rise in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), which is set to kick in at the start of the coming financial year next week.

Coupled with the obligation to fund compulsory teacher salary increases, schools in some cases face a total additional financial burden of £140,000 – a substantial sum that must be sourced from existing teaching budgets, imposing severe knock-on effects on their overall resources.

Commenting, Ben Maguire MP said: "The financial strain being put on our local schools by the Government is unacceptable.

"Expecting North Corrnwall's schools to absorb these additional costs - without the adequate financial support - really jeopardizes the teaching resources that the schools are able to offer pupils.

“I will be raising this issue directly with the Department for Education, pressing for immediate financial assistance to ensure our schools are not forced to make any detrimental cuts."