Worcester MP joins fair funding group's executive committee

Robin Walker, the recently appointed Member of Parliament for Worcester, has agreed to join the Executive Committee of f40, the national group that campaigns for fairer funding in education.

In agreeing to become a member of the committee, the Conservative MP said that pupils in schools in his and neighbouring constituencies in Worcestershire receive much less funding per head than the national average and that f40’s campaign for a fairer deal for the poorest funded is critically important.

Robin said: “I have always said that I would campaign for fairer funding for Worcester’s schools and I am glad that I have been able to get going on this early in my Parliamentary career.

“In my maiden parliamentary speech last week, I brought the House’s attention to the stark fact that the average pupil in Worcestershire receives £370 less than the national average and a staggering £762 less than children in neighbouring Birmingham, despite the fact that some parts of my constituency are among the 10 per cent most deprived areas in the country.

“I have followed that up by tabling my first Early Day Motion - entitled ‘f40 and education funding’ – which commends f40’s campaign for fairer funding for schools. The motion, which is already receiving significant support from MPs from across the country, notes with concern the widening gap between the best and worst funded education authorities in recent years and makes it clear that the current funding formula must change. It also shows that achieving fairer funding will be one of my top priorities.

“Now I have accepted the f40 Group’s invitation to join their executive committee. This gives me the opportunity to be at the heart of the fair funding campaign and to help persuade my colleagues in Government to adjust the funding distribution formula so that it gives greater equity to all pupils, no matter where they live.”

f40 chairman, Cllr Ivan Ould, who is also Lead Member for Children and Older People’s Services at Leicestershire County Council, welcomed Robin’s decision to join the group.

He said: “We all hope that the new Coalition government will take positive action to adjust the funding formula so that it is fair to all pupils. A consultation on a new system has recently ended and vital decisions will be taken later in the year which will set funding streams for the foreseeable future. I hope that Robin’s support will ensure that the Government recognises the inadequacies and unfairness built in to the existing, discredited system. All we are looking for is a new, fairer, simpler and more transparent system be introduced in time for the three-year schools allocation for 2011-14.”

Back to news

• Contact the f40 group
• Print page
• Bookmark page

Copyright © 2010 f40 Group. Designed and developed by DTW