During a debate in the Senedd over the Welsh Government’s 2024-2025 Final Budget, Member of the Senedd for the Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies, warned the Welsh Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans, that planned cuts to education will force schools in Denbighshire to axe support for vulnerable children.
Mr Davies’ contribution to the debate followed a letter he received from Denbighshire school leaders warning that due to education cuts in the latest Welsh Government budget, schools in Denbighshire will be forced to withdraw pastoral care, well-being support, behaviour support, mental health support, learning support, and extra-curricular activities. The 2024-25 Welsh Government Budget outlines a cash terms cut to education of £56 million.
During the debate, Mr Davies alleged that the Welsh Government is putting ideologically driven schemes before vital services, with £120 million earmarked for Senedd expansion and funding for universal free school meals despite funding for pupils’ education being cut.
Commenting after the debate, Gareth Said:
“Parents across Denbighshire are deeply concerned regarding their children losing vital learning and pastoral support that schools across the county are being forced to make following the Welsh Government’s latest cuts to education.
“Following the lowest Welsh PISA results on record, the Welsh Government now sees it fit to cut £56 million from the education budget.
“The Welsh Government needs to scrap its ideologically driven vanity schemes like Senedd expansion and invest that money into our schools so that the most vulnerable children do not lose vital support and safeguarding arrangements.”