TIME FOR A FAIR DEAL FOR CORNISH SCHOOLS

12.00.00pm GMT Thu 28th Jan 2010

Lib Dems plan for £22million of extra money for Cornish schools

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has announced plans for £22million of extra funding to boost education in Cornwall after Lib Dem research revealed that less than half of Cornish pupils from poorer backgrounds attained 5 GCSE grades A to C compared with 70% of pupils from better off families.

The extra funding for Cornish schools is part of a nation-wide £2.5 billion "Pupil Premium" pledge designed to give every child a fair start in life.

Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that Cornwall is in the bottom 25 of the school funding league table and less than half of pupils (46%) eligible for free school meals in Cornwall get 5 GCSE grades A to C, compared to 70% of pupils from better off families.

Under the Pupil Premium the Liberal Democrats would invest an extra £22.1m in Cornish schools to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to make the most of their lives.

Steve Gilbert, the Prospective MP for St Austell & Newquay, said:

"Under the last Conservative government Cornish school children lost out to the tune of £100 each per year. It's got worse under Labour, with each pupil in Cornwall now £300 a year worse off than the national average.

"With such unfairness in funding it's no surprise there is such an alarming gap in achievement between pupils from the poorest backgrounds and those from families who are better off.

"Under Lib Dem plans, schools in Cornwall would get a further £22million which they could use to cut class sizes and provide more individual support. Only when we get education funding back on track will be able to give all our children the fair start they deserve."