An MS questioned the Business Minister in the Senedd this week, who was filling in for Mark Drakeford during First Minister’s Questions, about increasing education funding.

Laura Ann Jones, MS said in her question to the Minister: “Business Minister, it’s now imperative, that with all the extra pressures on our schools, that the Welsh Government ensures that any additional funding for future budgets, that has now been provided for schools in England - by the UK Government - will be matched in Wales to go to our schools whose budgets desperately need it.”

Last week the UK Governments’ autumn statement announced an increase in funding for education, which would equate to roughly £200m million pounds extra for education in Wales if were to do the same.

Overall, the Welsh government will be receiving an extra £1.2 billion in additional funding, over two years.

Commenting outside the chamber, Shadow Education Minister, Laura Anne Jones MS – said: “It’s clear from the Minister’s response that education will not be made a priority in Wales like the UK Government has made it in England.

“Welsh Labour have proven time and again how out of touch they are, piling excessive workloads onto teaching staff while simultaneously under-staffing and under-resourcing them. We have lost 4,000 teachers but gained 7,000 pupils in 10 years.

“Already our pupils are missing out on £1,000 per head in funding as Wales receives £1.20 for every £1 spent in England, an additional amount that the Labour is failing to funnel into education delivery.