Cash boost for local schools welcome

The money given to schools to help children from poorer backgrounds is set to rise again in Hinckley and Bosworth, local Councillor Michael Mullaney said today.

The Pupil Premium - aimed at providing extra money to support youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds - is expected to increase in Hinckley and Bosworth to £2,582,000 in September 2014.

Among the Hinckley schools set to benefit are Battling Brook Primary School who are due to receive £137,800 in Pupil Premium money and Redmoor Academy who are due to receive £84,150 in Pupil Premium funding and

Richmond Primary School who are set to get £91,000 Pupil Premium funding..

The announcement came after figures also revealed the attainment gap between children eligible for Free School Meals and their peers continued to narrow.

Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Hinckley and Bosworth Cllr Michael Mullaney said:

"The Pupil Premium is working and standards are improving at schools across the country as the attainment gap narrows between the poorest pupils and their wealthier peers.

"It is one of a number of Liberal Democrat polices, including the introduction of free school meals, which is aimed at helping all children improve in class.

"We believe it is crucial for a fairer society that every school pupil has a good start, where success or failure is not determined by the income of his or her parents."