The Liberal Democrats have announced that they will spend £10 billion a year more on schools and hire 20,000 more teachers by the end of the next Parliament.

Figures from the National Education Union show that next year (2020/21), schools across Bournemouth’s two constituencies will have seen their budgets cut by an eye-watering £3,640,087 in real terms since 2015, once increasing pupil numbers are taken into account.

This is equivalent to a cut of £53 per pupil in Bournemouth East and a massive £192 per pupil in Bournemouth West. Across the

Bournemouth East constituency 27% of schools have seen their spending power cut since 2015, while 29% of schools in Bournemouth West have been hit.

Local teacher Philip Dunn, Liberal Democrat candidate for Bournemouth East said:

“Young people across the whole of Bournemouth deserve world-class schools and colleges so they can get the best start in life.

“But instead, the Conservatives have cut school budgets to the bone. Across the country, hundreds of schools rely on handouts from local parents or, like my own school, have had to cut staff numbers to make ends meet. Some schools are even shortening the school day because they can’t afford to keep children at school for a five-day week.

“As the next MP for Bournemouth East, I will fight to reverse school cuts so that our children can get the resources they need to learn.

Jon Nicholas, Liberal Democrat candidate for Bournemouth West added:

“Liberal Democrats will build a brighter future for every child in Bournemouth. By stopping Brexit, we can spend £10 billion a year more on schools and recruit 20,000 more teachers to give every child the skills they need to succeed in life.”