A FUNDING boost for schools across the country has been welcomed by Hexham’s MP, Guy Opperman.

Last month, the Prime Minister announced a £14bn boost for education over the next three years, with £2.6bn allocated for the coming year.

The additional funding will increase to £4.8bn in the academic year 2021-2022 and £7.1bn in 2022-23.

The figures revealed that schools in the North-East will receive an extra £73m from April – an increase of 3.8 per cent per pupil.

It means that funding per pupil at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School will be at a record high, much to the delight of Mr Opperman.

“This is amazing news for our schools here in the Tyne Valley and Ponteland,” he said.

“This announcement is the result of a long campaign, which has been hugely supported by local headteachers, to get a fair funding settlement for our schools.

“Every school in this area will see their funding from the Government increase for the next school year.

“For example, Queen Elizabeth High School will get over £5,000 per pupil for the first time ever.”

However, a report from economic research group the Institute for Fiscal Studies, claimed that the full funding package would “just about” reverse the cuts of eight per cent in real terms on pupil spending since 2009.

Ponteland Middle School’s headteacher, Dr Caroline Pryor, said the money would benefit local families.

She said: “This is welcome news.

“As a school in transition from middle to primary and converting in one fell swoop, while rearranging from nursery to Year 6, any additional funding to secure provision for children, employment for staff and maintenance for school buildings will benefit schools, families, and their communities.”