The success of Hounslow schools is under threat from more central government cuts as the government recalculates the formula under which schools are funded. This issue has been raised by both Hounslow MPs Seema Malhotra MP and Ruth Cadbury MP.

Hounslow Council was recently found to be one of the most improved in the UK, but the Conservative government wants make more funding changes on top of the education cuts of the past five years. Independent experts say that the cuts to London schools could be as much as 14%, and for Hounslow 12%.

Hounslow councillors voiced their concerns at the proposals in a motion tabled by the Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Tom Bruce, at the Borough Council meeting last week. The motion, which was unanimously supported, called on the government to protect funding for Hounslow’s schools.

Seema said: “This government has a history of using funding formula changes as a smoke screen for cuts. This latest proposal looks like more of the same. Hounslow children must not lose out from these changes. We will be scrutinising this more closely.”

Cllr Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Education, said:

“Every child in the borough deserves a great education, and we are fortunate here in Hounslow to have so many excellent schools providing high quality education for our children and young people. It’s imperative, therefore, to send out a clear message to central government that any further cuts to already depleted school budgets would jeopardise the opportunity for the next generation of children and young people from getting the best possible start in life.”

UPDATE:

The Hounslow Chronicle covered this story here.