The campaign for fair school funding will demonstrate support from 107 constituencies across England on Tuesday evening when scores of MPs will present public petitions in the House of Commons chamber.
The presentation will be led by Graham Stuart MP, the Vice Chairman of the F40 campaign that has led calls for school funding to be overhauled. It follows the commitment given by Chancellor George Osborne at last week’s Comprehensive Spending Review that the Government will consult on a new national funding rate for pupils in the New Year.
The ten best funded areas of England receive average schools block funding of £6,300 per pupil this year, compared to an average of £4,200 in the ten worst funded areas.
Graham will present the petition from his constituency of Beverley and Holderness, where 2,287 people have signed up to show their support. He will be joined by both Labour and Conservative MPs.
Speaking ahead of the presentation, Graham said:
“Tuesday’s presentation is intended to showcase the strength of feeling that exists up and down the country that levels of school funding cannot continue to be arbitrary and unfair. The current system hits rural and urban areas alike and the campaign does not divide along party lines – Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham has confirmed he plans to attend and the biggest winner under our proposals would be Labour-held Barnsley.
“I am very grateful to everybody who has signed the petition in Beverley and Holderness and all those across the country. It’s great that ministers have now committed to consult on how best to implement a new national funding formula but we will not let up until fair funding is delivered to schools in our constituencies.”
