Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner called on the Government to act fast to prevent Cambridge’s schools from “running out of money“,  in a debate in Parliament on funding for schools in East Anglia.

He told MPs “ Tony Davies, the headteacher of St Matthew’s Primary School, tells us that the school will run out of money at the end of this year so it is seeking contributions from parents. How is it that successful schools are literally running out of money?“ 

He also challenged the Minister on funding levels for local maintained nursery schools:  “My area has some fantastic maintained local nursery schools, which incur additional costs and have been under considerable financial pressure.“ In response the Minister said he would have to await future announcements.

Daniel Zeichner also highlighted that in Cambridgeshire, funding has fallen by £208 per pupil, and £45 million overall.  

Labour colleague Clive Lewis MP agreed, stating that “We have to accept that our schools are running out of money for the same reason that our public services are underfunded: because of a damaging political choice.“

Mr Zeichner comments “We can’t educate young people on the cheap. Schools have been savagely cut, with teachers over-stretched, and children who need more support left to struggle. Local parents tell me that their kids‘ schools can’t afford exercise books or other essentials. This Conservative Government is proving its cruelty time and time again – and it’s future generations that are missing out“ 

“We need serious change, and fast – we must over-turn the Tory and Lib Dem cuts that have been carried out since 2010, and invest in schools properly.“