Graham Stuart MP has written to the headteacher of every school in the Beverley and Holderness constituency, encouraging them to support the reform proposals set out in the Government’s consultation on fair school funding.
The consultation, which runs until 17 April, sets out plans to begin introducing a national funding formula from 2017/18 onwards. It will ensure every school and local area, no matter where they are in the country, is funded fairly – according to pupil need rather than the oddities of history.
This signals an end to the current unfair system, which has lasted for decades and led to a situation where the ten best funded areas of England currently receive an average of £6,300 per pupil of schools block funding, compared to just £4,200 in the ten worst funded areas, with no objective basis for the difference. The East Riding is among the worst-funded areas in England.
Graham, who leads the official Parliamentary campaign for fair school funding, said,
“This consultation has the potential to increase funding for East Riding schools significantly, ending decades where our area has lost out owing to a flawed funding settlement.”
“I have written to heads asking them to contribute to this consultation, setting out their support for reform and how they believe core schools funding should be constituted. I would also encourage interested parents and members of the public to make submissions, which can be done online.”
“Having brought forward these proposals, ministers need to hear loud and clear that the people of the East Riding welcome them – not least because there may well be opponents of reform supplying a contrary view. This is a once in a generation opportunity to secure better funding for local children and we should seize it.”
