SIR – Harriett Baldwin’s claim that the government is investing “record amounts in our school system” was greeted with scepticism by my son who is currently sitting his GCSEs.

Probably helped by studying critical thinking for GCSE he spotted that this claim does not take account of rising costs, such as inflation.

 So, what is the full picture in relation to schools funding? Day-to-day funding for schools per pupil stayed at roughly the same level from 2010/11 to 2015/16, once rising prices are taken into account.

After that, funding per pupil fell and since 2017/18 it has flattened out.

Funding from 2017/18 to 2019/20 remains lower than 2015 levels.

A little critical thinking, plus some research to check the figures, reveals that these “record amounts” are actually lower in real terms than a few years ago.

It is a shame that so few pupils study a subject such as critical thinking, as it is something that we could all benefit from – or maybe not all of us.

As my son has told me, his critical thinking class often study the statements of leading politicians in order to identify the bad logic and the poor arguments.

 He wonders if Harriett Baldwin is deliberately trying to pull the wool over our eyes, or doesn’t understand the facts herself and needs to go back to school.

Councillor Matthew Jenkins

Worcester Green Party