Fair funding for schools campaign group, f40, has met with the Secretary of State for Education to discuss concerns about the delayed 2nd Stage consultation on a new national funding formula.
F40 chair, Councillor Ivan Ould, who is also Lead Member for Children’s Services in Leicestershire, said: “F40 has become fundamental to the debate regarding fair funding for all school children and local authorities. Successive governments have listened to the reasoned argument put forward by our group, and we welcome the fact that new proposals will soon be forthcoming. F40 will want to carefully assess the full implications, particularly the issue of local flexibility, before responding to the proposals. We have made a significant contribution to the debate so far, and have offered to continue working with the Department for Education as the new formula unfolds and is implemented.
Alex Chalk MP, who represents Cheltenham, and who recently agreed to be the new Conservative Vice Chair of f40, said: “I was keen to ensure that the government is listening to the concerns of the poorest funded authorities and schools that have been treated so unfairly for many years.
“Fair funding is one of my main interests and naturally I – and parents in my constituency – want to see that this government delivers on a new national fair funding formula as quickly as possible. Our team was pleased to hear that the long-awaited 2nd Stage consultation is imminent
“It is clear that the Secretary of State understands that the existing funding model has no rationale and is clearly unfair. She recognises the inconsistencies in funding for individual schools with similar characteristics across the country and wishes to see matters improve.”
