Christopher Pincher Meets Minister to Discuss School Funding

Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, has met with David Laws, Minister of State for Schools, to discuss school funding reforms.

Mr Pincher Joined Staffordshire County Councillors and five other local MPs on Tuesday to discuss the future of schools funding to ensure that Tamworth gets the best from the proposed funding allocation changes which are due to come into effect in 2013.

The proposed changes see alterations in how schools receive their funding, reducing the complex bureaucracy to allocate funds distribute money in a fair and logical way.  This will see schools in similar circumstances and with similar intakes of pupils receiving similar levels of funding.  The new system aims to be clear and easy for parents, schools and the public to understand and see where funds are being allocated, whilst supporting a range of school provisions including academies and free schools.

More than £35 billion of revenue is spent on schools each year and so it is crucial that the funding system provides good value for money across the whole country.

Mr Pincher commented, “School funding needs to be reformed but also needs to be fair.  It is so important that we work closely with schools and work hard to ensure Tamworth pupils get the best out of vital funding reforms.  For too long Staffordshire schools have languished at the bottom of the education funding league table.

“I am pleased the Government want to change this.  The Minister was open to innovative ideas and said he would look at our suggestions to make funding more flexible.  I hope this will ensure fair funding across the whole county including Tamworth.”