Crucial step forward for fairer funding campaign

Robin Walker MP for Worcester joined the Chairman and Secretary of the f40 group, as well as key experts on schools funding, for a meeting with the new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools, Lord Hill at the Department for Education this week.

The f40 campaign has been calling for fairer funding for schools on behalf of the worst funded local authorities, including Worcestershire, and Robin has been an active supporter of their campaign.

This was a vital meeting in which the f40 group was introduced to the Minister and put forward its views on the Pupil Premium as well as the need for a further reform of schools funding.

Robin put the case for Worcestershire and pointed out that it is wrong that there should be a difference of over £700 between per pupil funding in this county and in the neighbouring authority of Birmingham.

The Minister listened carefully to the views presented and acknowledged that the complexity of the current system and some of its disparities are an issue that needs addressing. He invited f40 to continue to participate in the discussions around a future formula review and confirmed that, after the introduction of the pupil premium, this is an issue that the government will actively look into.

Robin said

“It was great to be able to put our case directly to the Minister responsible. I was honoured to be part of f40s delegation and I think all the members of the group were pleased with the Minister’s engagement and responsiveness. The government needs to listen to the experts on this issue and it is good news that the enormous expertise of the f40 group will be taken into account when the government addresses a revised funding system. I was certainly pleased to have these experts by my side for this meeting.

“I know from my meetings with Worcester schools that fairer funding remains an urgent issue and I will do everything I can to keep it high on the agenda. By only launching a consultation on schools funding in its dying days, the last government left this issue too late. However some important feedback was gathered as part of their consultation and I have urged the Minister to pay attention to that and use it both in handling the pupil premium and in further reforms.

“As I’ve said before, fairer funding is not a party issue, but a question of justice and I put it to the Minister that this Coalition government, which has put fairness at the heart of its programme, must treat our schools fairly. I am encouraged that he has taken the point, recognises the problem and intends to address it. The pupil premium is a step in the right direction but there is more that needs to be done and I will keep pushing to get our schools a fair deal.”

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