HEADTEACHERS say they remain sceptical about a promise to inject £1.3bn into the country’s schools – with many unconvinced on how, or if, it will help Swindon’s pupils.

Education secretary Justine Greening announced on Monday that she intends to invest the money into core funding over the next two years but had to scrabble around for the cash by raiding the Department for Education’s own budget.

The move was made as a result of increased criticism to the way schools have had to beg parents for extra cash or cut courses.

But despite the move, some of Swindon’s headteachers remain doubtful over whether the town will see a penny from the announcement.

Headteacher of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy George Croxford said while any funding was welcomed by schools, he couldn’t help but feel that Ms Greening was robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“There is absolutely no detail on the announcement and we do not know how it will affect our schools,” he said. “I am very sceptical. The only thing that did encourage me is that they are going to guarantee real term increases. They have said that for the last seven years but not done anything. If they kept to it then that would be fantastic.

“We are due to gain slightly which we are pleased about but I do not see why schools in centre London get an extra £5m a year to us – how is that right?

“We are a very large school now with around 1,700 students and we have cut everything we can to make savings. We just have to hope they will start to fund us properly and start increasing what they have said.”

The bulk of the cash will come from an unidentified £600m of new cuts to the central DfE budget. A further £200m will come from the free schools budget. Savings in excess of £420m will also be taken from the capital budget.

Ms Greening also announced a rise in the overall core schools budget, from £41bn in 2017/18 to £43.5bn in 2019/20, with most of the funds coming from efficiency savings.

It is hoped that the move will ease the introduction of a new funding formula in 2018 in an effort to end what had been seen as a previously unfair ‘postcode lottery’ with some areas, including Swindon, getting less than they deserved.

Headteacher of Goddard Park Primary, Mike Welsh, agrees with Mr Croxford but added: “Our children’s outcomes are compared to other schools who receive a much higher budget and that is not taken into account. A school in London may have the same amount of pupils but they are likely to have more funding and therefore more teachers.

“We never use that as an excuse because we’ve learnt to get on with it and get good results.

“Children only have one chance in school and we need to provide the best education we can. Taking money from the education budget to put in other areas is probably not the best idea, especially when the government has talked about its view on austerity.”

But Swindon’s MPs both welcomed the announcement. MP for South Swindon, Robert Buckland said: “Historically, we have been under funded as opposed to other areas and Justin and I felt very strongly to get it changed.

“I think it was a big step forward and I was pleased to be in the chamber to hear it.

“The new formula is designed to help places like Swindon and I am a strong believer in pressing ahead and getting on with it to make sure we can right some of the historic wrongs that schools in Swindon have faced when it comes to funding.”

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson added: “The Conservatives are committed to ending the postcode lottery of school funding – so all children receive the education they deserve, wherever they live.

“Today’s announcement sends a clear message that we are committed to raising standards and giving every child the best possible education and the best possible opportunities for their future.”

Coun Fionuala Foley, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and School Attainment, said: “Our schools have not fared particularly well in recent years when it comes to funding, so the Minister’s announcement yesterday is clearly good news.

“The new schools funding formula announced last year is likely to bring us closer to other local authorities and, hopefully, this additional money will give our schools a further boost.

“We are all striving to improve educational outcomes in Swindon so the additional funding, coupled with the support of the Council-sponsored Swindon Challenge Board, will go a long way to helping us drive up standards in our schools.”