Grayson says Lib Dems would fund Herts schools more

11.08.59pm GMT Tue 2nd Feb 2010

The Liberal Democrats have announced a major funding commitment to boost education in Hertfordshire. The policy has its origins in a proposal put forward by Dr Richard Grayson and Nick Clegg in a co-written booklet published in 2002. The booklet was called Lessons from Europe and was based on research which Grayson and Clegg carried out in schools in the Netherlands, which has effective systems for supporting the poorest pupils.

Party Leader, Nick Clegg MP today set out the Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment for a Pupil Premium that would invest over £33m of extra cash a year in Hertfordshire schools, raising the funding for disadvantaged pupils to private school levels. The money will be invested through the Pupil Premium pledge, part of a £2.5bn manifesto spending commitment.

Dr Richard Grayson, Hemel Hempstead's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, said: "Research shows that giving more support to the poorest children helps everyone. With the Pupil Premium, the average school would get around £2,500 extra for every child entitled to free school meals. So under our plans, Herts schools would get over £33m each year which they could use to cut class sizes and provide more individual support."

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: "Only when we get education funding back on track will be able to give all our children the fair start they deserve."