The message to the new education secretary is loud and clear: act now over the “dire” school funding situation and soaring energy prices – and stop the “policy gimmicks and political posturing”.
New prime minister Liz Truss has appointed Kit Malthouse as her new education secretary, the fourth MP to hold the post this year – and the ninth in eight years.
School leaders have been clear in their warnings this week that there will be unpalatable cuts to front-line educational provision unless urgent action is taken over funding.
Things look stark. The Conservative government had promised by the end of this Parliament to restore per-pupil funding in real-terms to levels last seen in 2010.
