Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has challenged the Education Secretary over the poor financial settlement for school budgets.

In the Senedd Chamber yesterday, Darren was critical of the amount allocated, which he said is not enough to enable schools to "deliver the high-quality education that our young people deserve".

Addressing the Cabinet Secretary for Education, he said:    

"I share the concerns of the Headteacher's Union and, indeed, everybody else involved in the education sector about the very poor settlement that's has been secured for school budgets next year.

"We already know that young people in our country have to contend with the worst educational outcomes in the United Kingdom, and that Wales is the only country that's in the bottom half of the international league tables.

"It's a disgrace that we have young people and staff who have to work in rotten classrooms. The teaching workforce is demoralised because it's overstretched and under-resourced.

"We need to make sure that we invest in the next generation, the future of our country, and that's why we've got to make sure that more cash gets through to those schools on the front-line.

"I've heard what you've said today. It doesn't give me any confidence that schools are going to have cash that they need to deliver the high-quality education that our young people deserve."

He added:

"I've been there, as a Chair of the Finance Committee at a secondary school, and seen how difficult it is to try to manage a school budget with the resources that the Welsh Government and local authorities are giving.

"We need to make these schools a priority. We're looking to you and the Welsh Government to make sure that our young people have the best chance at a decent education. Increase funding now."