News Release

1st November 2001

WORST EDUCATION BUDGET YET, HEADMASTER TELLS STAFFORDSHIRE MPs

Duncan Meikle, headmaster of King Edward VI School in Lichfield told Michael Fabricant and other Staffordshire MPs at a meeting at the House of Commons this morning (10.30am, November 1st) that he is now having to live with the worst budget he has had to endure since becoming headmaster over 4 years ago.

He presented a litany of problems ranging from broken central heating pipes to rotten window frames and told MPs that the maintenance budget for the financial year, which begins in April, had already been spent. He dreaded to think what could happen as winter approaches. Other headteachers told of similar problems.

At a private meeting afterwards, Mr Meikle told Michael Fabricant there is huge pressure on his teachers as back up resources dwindled. Even basics like white boards and desks needed repair and replacement.

"Education in Staffordshire is reaching crisis point" says Michael Fabricant. "Teachers are facing the tightest budgetary constraints yet and promises made by Labour in 1997 to provide fair funding for Staffordshire schools have not been kept. Staffordshire is still the second poorest paid county in the country for education; if our County just received the national average, our schools would be better off by £30 million this year alone. Right now, less money is being received at the chalk face than before".

A meeting will now be arranged with the Schools' Minister to discuss this issue further.