Fight for fairer funding continues (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fight for fairer funding continues

FAIR funding campaigners in Gloucestershire have welcomed a significant increase in school funding for next year with a cautionary note.

The good news is that the overall increase is 6.8 percent, which equates to each pupil receiving an extra £213 in funding (£3,145 to £3,358).

But the county is still 137 out of 150 education authorities in England in terms of funding per child.

And fair funding campaigners say the Government has failed to take the opportunity, when the settlement is so generous overall, to start the process of tackling the massive inequality in the national system.

Bryan Summer, of Fair Funding for Gloucestershire Schools, said: "It's currently impossible for a child to get the same level of provision wherever they live.

"What we are fighting for is a fair system that ensures funding reflects what it actually costs to deliver high standards.

"We want every child with the same needs to receive the same provision wherever they live."

However, the Government has also announced that over the next two years it plans to review the method of distribution for school funding.

Mr Summer added: "We can only hope - and do everything we can - to make sure the Government is really listening to counties like Gloucestershire rather more than they have done so far.

"Although the county has received the national average increase, the method used continues to widen the gap between the best and worst funded authorities."

Currently, Oxfordshire receives £3,479 per pupil, Reading £3,797 and Wandsworth £4,513.

The campaign group will now be writing to all the county's MPs, the minister for school standards and the new shadow cabinet member for education.

Mr Summer said: "We will also continue to work with other authorities through the campaign group, and once the review is underway next year we will be asking parents to get actively involved to strengthen our voice."

An increase of 6.8 percent for Gloucestershire means secondary and special schools are guaranteed to receive an increase of 3.4 percent child and primaries four percent to cover known cost increases.

This leaves £7.5 million for the county council to allocate.

Mr Summers added: "We hope the council will work with the Schools Forum and the bodies it represents to agree how to use this funding for the greatest need."