Primary and nursery schools in Derry and across Northern Ireland are to receive £56 less per pupil this school year following cuts by the Department of Education.

Last year, schools across the North were awarded £2,061.21 per pupil.

This year, that has been reduced to £2,004.71 per pupil.

The amount of money paid per pupil at post-primary schools has also been reduced.

In 2016-17 post-primaries received around £2,077.24 per pupil, but in 2017-18 they will receive £2,062.19.

This is a cut of around £15 per pupil.

The Department of Education said that the cut was partly due to their being more primary schools in the country than in the previous year.

Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Karen Mullan has said school children are paying the price for Tory cuts.

Mrs Mullan said: “We acknowledge that the department is facing considerable financial pressures but children should not be targeted in this manner.

"Schools are already coming under significant financial pressures as a direct result of Tory austerity cuts to the Block Grant.

"Since the Tories came into power we have seen over a billion pounds cut from the North's block grant and local schools and local children are paying the price for this.

“Tory cuts are set to continue supported by the DUP."

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