Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Now, this debate actually today, Minister, is indeed very timely. Many of our schools now are having to take drastic decisions. I don't think she's listening, but there we go. This is particularly true in Conwy County Borough Council, where this year alone schools are on a real terms cut of over 7.6 per cent, equating to over £400,000 at some secondary schools. Now, I do hope the Minister's aware of this letter that's doing the rounds, and it's gone home to every single parent within the schools in Conwy, and it's been signed off by seven headteachers of the secondary schools. They are saying it is make or break time for our schools. The financial situation has become critical. They are having to consider larger class sizes, fewer teachers; school buildings falling into disrepair; reduction in support for additional learning needs and well-being needs; cuts in teaching assistants and support staff; outdated IT; fewer trips and after-school activities; and grants being used to support the core provision of our schools.

This situation has been echoed by other school leaders who have persistently raised concerns that targeted funding such as the PDG is masking the inadequacy of, and is filling gaps in, core budgets. For example, the Association of School and College Leaders have stated that core budgets are no longer sufficient to maintain the levels of expert staffing, maintain school buildings and purchase the necessary equipment required to ensure that all our schools are able to deliver the best possible education for the young people of Wales. Using the current school services indicator-based assessment—IBA—formula, local authorities determine their relative need and how much spending should be allocated to schools. However, not all local authorities are providing schools with the amount of funding specified in the IBA, and that is something that you should be looking at. For example, while the 2018-19 gross schools expenditure was budgeted at £2.56 billion, the funding actually delegated to schools was £2.16 billion—less than the IBA figure of £2.42 billion. The pupil spend in Wales, as Mohammad here has pointed out, is nearly £700 less than in England, with a shortfall of £283 million. Despite the Welsh Government setting a target for 85 per cent of all school funding to go directly to schools in 2012, the target has never been achieved at an all-Wales level.

The seriousness of the situation is apparent when considering that the association—[Interruption.] No, I've only got four minutes.

The Association of School and College Leaders Cymru estimate that, of the £2.5 billion allocated for schools in the education budget, al least £450 million is not getting to schools because it is retained by local authorities or regional consortia. As such, it is reasonable to ask what is going on and whether the funding is being used effectively.

Suzy Davies is quite correct to dispel the argument that this is just down to austerity. Many schools are falling in the national school categorisation system, including one from—[Interruption.] Allow me to finish. I've only got four minutes.

The negative impact this is having on pupils is apparent when considering the gap between eligible-for-free-school-meal pupils and non-EFSM pupils' attainment widened between 2016 and 2017. Paul Davies eloquently described well how schools in his constituency are suffering as a direct result of these funding issues. He's also correct to point out the need to be reviewing the actual regional consortia and the expenses and bureaucracy that they add. I go around my schools, I go around and speak to my headteachers, and I can tell you what you're doing is not working. The regional consortium in itself is an over-burdensome, bureaucratic nightmare that is taking money away from our schools. I ask you, Minister, please, if nothing else, review the workings of the regional consortia.