SCHOOL leaders in Wales will push today for the governments at both ends of the M4 motorway to ensure that Welsh schools receive proper funding from next week’s spending review.

NAHT Cymru said schools in Wales urgently needed the Chancellor to set out major new investment in next week’s three-year spending review.

The head teachers’ union also demanded that politicians in both Westminster and Cardiff ensure that Welsh schools receive an equal share. 

NAHT Cymru’s Laura Doel said: “The UK government failed to fully fund the costs of increased National Insurance contributions for public-sector workers.

“Local authorities tell us they are cash-strapped and struggling to meet the demands of statutory services like education. 

“Schools cannot magic up money from down the back of the sofa to make up these shortfalls.”

Schools in Wales are awaiting publication of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body’s findings and the union said the 4 per cent rise last month for teachers in England was the least they deserved.

NAHT Cymru said it was vital that schools could afford the increase while also being able to invest in education generally.

The union said it had been unable to obtain clarity on whether additional funding received by the Welsh government was being spent on schools or even anything related to education.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We are providing an extra £262.5 million to the education sector, which is in addition to the increase in funding to local authorities to support public services, including schools.”