This evening Medway Conservatives tabled a motion to Medway Council's Full Council meeting, pushing for more investment for children and young people, which was voted down by the Labour administration. The motion followed recent research undertaken by the Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education who conducted a comprehensive survey of local schools and academies, with over thirty institutions responding. The findings reveal that current funding arrangements are placing the future of Medway’s children at risk.
The motion welcomed the Government’s recent announcement to extend free school meals to more of the most disadvantaged children in the area. This initiative marks a positive step forward in supporting vulnerable families and ensuring that no child goes hungry during the school day.
The motion also acknowledges the Government’s increased investment of £2.3 billion in education across the country, which has been positively received by the administration. However, serious concerns remain about the adequacy and fairness of school funding in Medway.
Key concerns highlighted by the research include:
- Employer national insurance contributions: Despite Government assurances of full funding, many schools are facing shortfalls of up to £37,000 annually due to a shift to per-pupil funding. This disproportionately affects schools with vacancies or experienced staff.
- General annual grant (GAG) discrepancies: Schools are experiencing real-term budget cuts, with funding changes ranging from a 1.9% decrease to a 2.0% increase—well below the inflation rate of 3.2%. This effectively amounts to a 5% cut, even as schools face rising demands for SEND provision.
- Teacher pay award: While a 4% pay increase for teachers is welcomed, schools are expected to fund 1% of this from existing budgets. This is forcing primary schools to reduce support staff and secondary schools to increase class sizes, both of which negatively impact educational outcomes.
- Regional funding inequities: Kent and Medway remain among the lowest funded areas for children’s education. Schools have already made significant financial efficiencies, leaving little room to absorb further pressures.
In response, despite the Council voting against the Conservative Group will write to the Secretary of State for Education to urge the Government to:
- Honour its commitment to fully fund employer national insurance increases for all Medway schools.
- Fully fund the 4% teacher pay award.
- Conduct an urgent review of school funding to ensure all children are treated fairly, regardless of where they live.
Medway Conservatives remain committed to advocating for equitable education funding and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Speaking after Full Council, Councillor Mark Joy, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education said:
“It is extremely disappointing that the Labour administration voted against our motion this evening. This motion gave the whole council the opportunity to put Medway’s schools and teachers first and request that the Government honoured its commitment to fully fund national insurance increases for Medway’s schools, and to fully fund the 4% pay award for Medway’s teachers.
Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, Medway Labour decided to put party before Medway residents.”
