Fair funding for schools campaign group f40 today announced the appointment of Layla Moran MP as its new Liberal Democrat Vice Chair.
Layla, a committed campaigner for fairer funding for schools, who represents the constituency of Oxford West & Abingdon, will play a leading role on f40’s behalf in Parliament and coordinate activities among Liberal democrat MPs representing f40 and other poorly funded areas.
f40 chair, Cllr James McInnes, who is also Lead Member for Children’s Services in Devon, said: “I am delighted to welcome Layla as our new Vice Chair and as a member of our Executive Committee. Layla, a former teacher and a current school governor, has spoken regularly in Parliament about the injustices surrounding school funding levels and the way funds are allocated, with some pupils in some schools getting much less than those in others. She has an excellent track record of fighting for fairer funding for schools and for education in general. She will be a great asset to the group as its campaign for improvements to the recently introduced national funding formula moves forward.
“Layla represents a constituency where the local authority suffers from inadequate and unfair funding compared to others elsewhere. By taking on a high-profile role in f40, she is clearly demonstrating her determination to fight for a fairer deal for the children in schools in her constituencies, as well as across the country. She will be a great ambassador for f40 and its fair funding campaign.”
Layla said: “It is an honour to have been invited to become a Vice Chair of the f40 campaign group. Fair funding for schools is one of my main interests and I am determined to see improvements made to the new national funding formula launched by the government in April 2018.
“This is a hugely important issue to my constituents in Oxfordshire who are simply asking that children here get the education they deserve and their fair share of the funding.
“Whilst welcoming the changes to the national funding formula, the fact is that there remains a massive shortfall in the funding available to schools. In addition, there’s a shortfall in the High Needs block this year, meaning children in schools across England may not get what they are entitled to and their local authorities are facing a financial crisis.
“There is unanimous recognition among f40 member authorities and many MPs of all parties that there is still more work to do to tackle the continuing unfairness within the system and I hope that I can play a constructive part in achieving further beneficial change.”
