Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase funding for schools in (a) Wigan and (b) the North West.

Funding for schools in the Wigan local authority has increased by 1.4% per pupil in 2019/20, compared to 2017/18 funding levels. This is equivalent to an extra £6.9 million in total, when rising pupil numbers are taken into account.

Funding for schools in the North West has increased by 2.8% per pupil in 2019/20, compared to 2017/18 funding levels. This is equivalent to an extra £245.6 million in total, when rising pupil numbers are taken into account.

Ministers and officials from the Department regularly meet head teachers. Funding is one of the Department’s top priorities and the Department is committed to securing the right deal for education in the next spending review.