A column by North Wiltshire MP James Gray.

More children across North Wiltshire will be able to access a world-class education thanks to a major funding boost.

The Conservative Government has confirmed schools in this constituency will receive 5.3 percent more funding per pupil next year as part of the recent multi-billion investment in primary and secondary education.

James Gray MP has welcomed this new funding, saying the commitment that every secondary school pupil will receive a minimum of £5,000 next year and every primary school pupil will receive a minimum of £4,000 by 2021-22 would reassure parents of the Government’s promise to deliver the best for their children.

This funding follows the Prime Minister’s announcement in August that the budget for schools and high needs would be increased by a total of over £14 billion over three years, rising to £52.2 billion by 2022-23.

Schools and local authorities will today find out how the first part of that investment - £2.6 billion - will be allocated for the coming year.

The extra money, available from April, will ensure that per-pupil funding for all schools can rise at least in line with inflation and will deliver promised gains in full for areas which have been historically under-funded

James Gray welcomed the funding boost and said: "Every child in my constituency deserves a high quality education and I welcome this announcement.

"I am glad that each pupil will receive £4,547 of funding, an increase of 5.3%, and I am certain that it will increase standards in our schools.

"I work closely with many of the schools in my constituency and am aware of the very real pressures that schools have been facing.

"I hope this extra funding for pupils and teachers will bring great benefits to the schools in my constituency."