WARRINGTON South MP David Mowat has won a firm government pledge that a fairer funding formula for local schools will be in place within three years.
Warrington is currently among the 40 worst funded local education authorities in England and received, over the last 10 years, only about half as much as the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
During a House of Commons debate he complained that the current formula means Warrington, which Ofsted reports as having 72 per cent of primary pupils in schools rated as “good or outstanding” can receive less funding than under-performing areas.
Mr Mowat told ministers: “The current formula, which we inherited, contains in-built bias and anomalies. Given that ministers are on record as saying that it needs to be replaced, why must we wait until 2015 before that process even starts?”
Schools minister David Laws replied: “He is right to chide by implication the previous Government for failing during a far more benign financial environment to tackle the unfairness of the national formula for funding schools.
“I can reassure him that we are taking action. We are already, in 2013-14 and 2014-15, simplifying massively the funding formula for schools, paving the way for the national funding formula, which we will introduce in the next spending review period.”
That response means that the nationwide system will be introduced in 2015-16, said Mr Mowat.
Fairer funding for schools pledge
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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i knlow that Mr Mowat is a tory and therefore may not believe in those who need help not receiving it, no matter how deserving that person is. However, can he not see that there is an srgument for those school swhich are struggling receiving more funding than thiose who are managing.
Perhaos he should have a word with his party colleague , Education Secretary Michael Gove. If he wasn’t throwing money at his, ideolgical driven, obsession with creating free schools and academies, there would be more oney to be spent on all primary schools.