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MP Column May 16: Alex Burghart MP, Brentwood and Ongar

This week, Alex talks about funding in schools

Nicola Lloyd

InYourArea Community, Nicola Lloyd

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MP Column May 16: Alex Burghart MP, Brentwood and Ongar

BRENTWOOD AND ONGAR MP: Alex Burghart

Written by Alex Burghart MP, Brentwood and Ongar

The Government is investing an extra £2billion in schools this year and next, with all state primary and secondary schools in Brentwood and Ongar getting their first payment this month.

The extra funding will deliver the highest real terms spending per pupil in history by 2024-25, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. A typical primary school will receive about an extra £35,000 and a typical secondary school will receive an extra £200,000.

The total amount coming to schools in this constituency is £2,649,216. The first payments were due to be made last week and schools can choose what they want to do with it, including paying for teacher salary uplifts and teaching assistants.

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The remainder of the £2billion funding boost will be used to increase Pupil Premium funding rates, to support disadvantaged pupils. Our local schools do an excellent job, and I am confident this additional funding will allow teachers to get on and do what they do best - teach our children.

Separately, in a few short weeks, the school holidays will be on us. If you are thinking of travelling abroad for a last-minute holiday, please check your passports are in date as HM Passport Office is advising it is currently taking up to ten weeks for a straightforward passport renewal.

Recent experience suggests it can be much quicker than this, but please do not book travel until you are sure your passport is in date.

Last week's column

UK passports are now only valid for 10 years from the date of issue – the previous ability to roll over some months from your previous passport no longer applies so do check the date of issue carefully.

The Brentwood Gazette covers areas including but not limited to Billericay, Brentwood, Hutton, Shenfield and Wickford in Essex.

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