Free Schools (Funding) Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Free Schools (Funding)

Guy Opperman Excerpts
Monday 12th May 2014

(10 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Guy Opperman Portrait Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con)
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In my part of Northumberland, we have neither the benefits nor the perceived burden of a free school. We have focused on more primary places; the rebuild, authorised by the Secretary of State, of Prudhoe community high school; the creation of the Haltwhistle academy, the first in my constituency; and the changes to the fairer funding formula, which will for the first time produce enhanced funding for Northumberland. I welcome the changes, I welcome his direction of travel and, in particular, I welcome the changes to the fairer funding formula.

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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My hon. Friend makes a very good point. Part of the progressive changes that have been introduced by my Department and which have been championed and designed by the Minister for Schools has been an increase in funding for the parts of the country that have suffered in the past. In particular, the delivery of the pupil premium ensures that disadvantaged children, wherever they are, enjoy not only a high quality of education but additional investment in a better future.