Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, joined around 60 delegates and twenty MPs to discuss the inequality of schools per pupil funding. The conference was called by the F40 campaign and was help, in Parliament, on the 6th February.
The F40 represents the lowest funded education authorities in England. Worcestershire has significantly lower levels of funding than neighbouring areas and is in the bottom 10 of education authority areas with regard per pupil funding. The conference is part of an ongoing campaign and was held to discuss the potential plans for a fairer system.
Progress is being made by the campaign, but it is slow. Michael Gove made a promise of a new National Funding Formula to replace the existing system 12 months ago. The Department for Education made a number of changes in 2013-14 including a simplified local formulae which now only 12 factors rather than 37. The F40 is continuing to campaign on this issue, supported by MPs such as Mark Garnier, whose constituents are affected by this antiquated and unfair system. The intentions discussed at the conference will mark a big step forward in the campaign for fairer funding.
Mark Garnier MP said "It is essential that we continue to drive for a fairer funding settlement for our schools in Worcestershire. It is not fair that schools across Worcestershire get a raw deal on funding. F40 is continuing the campaign for a national funding formula which is fair and consistent, driving out the vast differences between education authorities that sees a school like Kidderminster’s Baxter College receive over £3 million per year less than an identical school in central London. It is very important that the formula takes into account factors such as pupil allocation, deprivation and sparsity. This conference was a massive step forward in the campaign for fairer funding and an excellent opportunity to discuss intentions from the Department of Education.”