CONCERNED Worcester parents have met with the city’s MP Robin Walker to ensure their children receive a fair level of funding in education.
City parents met Mr Walker at the Guildhall last Monday (September 28), to ask for his help in safeguarding their children a fair level of funding from central Government to support them through school.
Mr Walker has recently dedicated much of his time in Parliament to lead the campaign for fair school funding as Worcestershire schools are some of the worst funded in the country.
Parents who met with Mr Walker were part of the Fair Pupil Funding group, which started in Worcestershire and is run and funded by parents and community leaders, and supports the work of the f40 group, who represent the 40 worst funded local authorities.
Mr Walker said he and the other f40 area MPs are collecting signatures from their constituents on a petition to demonstrate to Government – ahead of the Autumn Spending Review – that there is strong support for urgent reform.
Fizz Bewley, co-ordinator of Fair Pupil Funding said: “The £390million pledged by Government for 2015 and again in 2016, has not all gone to the areas needing it most.
“It’s bringing an additional £6.7million to Worcestershire in those years, but our schools are still struggling because the county needs a further £20million for pupils’ needs to be catered for in the same way as other schools in England.
“Even when local schools can afford to replace staff they are having trouble attracting good candidates because of this ridiculous situation.”
Visit you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-all-uk-pupils-fairly for more information
