It was very encouraging to hear that schools in Esher and Walton will be receiving a significant funding boost next year.

In 2021/22, the average primary school in Esher and Walton will receive £4,303 per pupil – a 4.2% increase on 2020/21. The average secondary school will receive £5,644 per pupil – a 2.7% increase. This investment will be a significant boost for our local schools and is particularly welcome given the challenging conditions they have been facing recently.

Importantly, the government has also raised the minimum funding levels that schools will receive per pupil. In 2021/22, all primary schools receive a minimum of £4,000 per pupil, and all secondary schools a minimum of £5,150 per pupil. This benefits the 15 primaries and one secondary in Esher and Walton which received less than these amounts in 2020/21.

As residents may be aware, the funding boost comes soon after Heathside Walton school – which will have a capacity of 900 pupils – received planning permission from Elmbridge Borough Council in June. The school will serve children in Walton and Molesey, and play an important role in easing the wider pressures on school places across the borough.

Together, more funding and more school places will ensure that our local children in Elmbridge get the excellent education they deserve.