Petition presented for schools funding formula

HENLEY MP John Howell presented a petition to Parliament on Tuesday calling for the introduction of a new funding formula for schools in England.

The petition, which was signed by 592 constituents, was sparked by complaints that Oxfordshire is particularly disadvantaged by the current formula.

Mr Howell said: "The existing model in England is arbitrary and unfair. The best funded areas of England have, on average, received grants of £6,300 per pupil this year, compared with an average of £4,200 per pupil in the 10 most poorly funded areas of England.

"Oxfordshire is particularly poorly funded. By better funding it, schools will be infinitely better off and have more resources to play with. They will have to make fewer choices about whether they can pay staff or cut courses.

"I welcome the announcement by the Chancellor to introduce fairer school funding. However, the purpose of the petition, which was accompanied by more than 100 similar petitions, was to support the earliest possible introduction of a new formula."