Ysgol Dinas Bran gets funding boost

North Wales AM Aled Roberts says that he and fellow Liberal Democrat Assembly Members have secured a £106m funding boost for less well-off children.

In exchange for allowing the Welsh Government’s budget to pass, schools in Denbighshire will receive £2.5 million next year and £2.7 million the year after thanks to the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Secondary schools receiving over £130,000 extra each year include Ysgol Dinas Bran.

The money will be given to schools as part of the Pupil Deprivation Grant which is a flagship Liberal Democrat policy introduced by the party in their first budget deal with Labour’s Welsh Government in 2012. 

Every school will receive £1,050 for every pupil who has free school meals next year. In 2016 that  figure will be increased by £100 to £1,150 per pupil.

The Pupil Deprivation Grant gives additional funding to help disadvantaged children get a fair start in life. It is strictly monitored by the Welsh Government to make sure that the money is spent on giving less well-off pupils a fairer start.

As part of the budget deal, the Welsh Liberal Democrats say they have also secured a £3.8m extension to the Pupil Deprivation Grant to include children under the age of 5.  This will be worth £300 per pupil.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats secured this extra money in 2012 to give less well-off pupils a fair start and I am delighted that we have managed to increase it once again,” said Aled Roberts.

“Schools in Denbighshire will now receive over £5 million extra in the next two years thanks to the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

“I’m also pleased that 12,500 nursery children under the age of 5 will now benefit.  The aim is to make sure that every child has a fair start when they begin their formal education.

“Too often children from poorer backgrounds fall behind in school even at an early age so this Welsh Liberal Democrat policy is designed to tackle inequalities in our education system.”