A CALL for extra funding for schools in Cumbria will be made at a full meeting of the county council next week.

Cabinet member for schools, Cllr Sue Sanderson, is hoping to win support to go to the Government for more money.

The motion will move that: “Cumbria County Council demands that the Government ensures funding for schools is sufficient for them to deliver a high standard of achievement and care, to support the requirements of a growing number of pupils with special educational needs and to have

buildings that are maintained to a baseline acceptable standard.”

Cllr Sanderson, a Liberal Democrat representing Ulverston, will make the plea at a meeting in Kendal on Thursday, April 11 – the last of the full council before the district council elections in May.

Concerns have been raised in recent weeks over the state of Cumbria’s schools following a £2m funding cut for maintenance.

Government cash to Cumbria County Council for repairs to the “ageing” school estate, has fallen from £6.7m to just £4.7m in five years, a meeting of the Labour and Liberal Democrat cabinet was told.

Senior councillors warned that in future, some county schools could be forced to close or seal off areas to pupils unless more funding is forthcoming, warned senior county councillors.

Cumbria County Council is responsible for 186 schools – 169 primaries, 10 secondaries, four special needs schools and three pupil referral units.

Cabinet member David Southward, who represents Labour, said schools faced challenges to make them “safe, wind and watertight.”

“Over the next few years, this challenge is set to increase as we anticipate further reductions in central Government funding for schools maintenance,” said Mr Southward, who is in charge of property.

“Unless there are changes in the funding available, there exists a very real risk that schools may have to close due to a lack of basic maintenance necessary to keep our children safe.”

In Copeland recently, a letter was sent to parents and carers at 18 primary schools warning the Government of a “misleading,over-optimistic and often inaccurate picture” on schools funding.

The letter, sent ahead of half term, said: “House of Commons data, published by the Government earlier this week, indicates that from 2014 to 2019, school funding for our schools has been cut by £1 million for Copeland which is equal to an average of -£255 per pupil across our schools. As headteachers, collectively we are saying this is not good enough.”