Education minister ducks question on school budgets

The promise of better financial education for children as part of the updated curriculum must not be undermined by the huge pressures on school budgets, says local Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart. 

While announcements on better financial education – a key topic for the MP – were welcomed, she got no real answer to her question on whether this would have to be paid for out of already overstretched budgets. 

Lisa Smart, MP for Hazel Grove constituency, said: “I particularly welcome the words from the Secretary of State about the importance of financial education from primary onwards. If it's done well, that can have a positive impact on our communities for decades to come. 

“I'm now in my 20th year as a primary school governor, so I understand why school leaders will be questioning how they can afford to pay for this from their already stretched budgets. Could the Secretary of State assure all of the primary school children in my constituency that there will be enough brilliant teachers on hand who were properly resourced to deliver what she's announced today?”

Unfortunately, there was no commitment to paying for these changes in education from the Minister; rather just a general comment about investment in the education system as a whole.

Liberal Democrat frontbench spokesperson Lisa Smart commented: “It’s all very well talking in general terms about education funding, but if you are making specific commitments to change the way that education works and what it delivers, you have to give teachers and schools the specific support to deliver that.

“Teachers, parents and pupils across my area know that when you do maths, you have to show your working out, and this was very much a ‘C’ grade answer from the Secretary of State – must do better.”