Osborne takes campaign for fairer funding to Education Secretary

With local schools set to lose over £1.8 million from their annual budget by 2019 under the Government's new funding formula, the campaign is continuing for a fairer system which MP George Osborne has pledged to support.

The government is proposing to introduce a National Funding Formula in 2018-19, which is designed to deliver a transparent funding system where the amount of funding children attract for their schools is based on need and is consistent across the country. However, according to the National Union of Teachers unless the Government allocates more money, schools will lose £3 billion a year in real terms by 2020.

The new system would result in a cut in budget for every primary school in Wilmslow, Handforth, Styal, Alderley Edge, Nether Alderley, Chelford, Mobberley and Mottram St Andrew, as well as Wilmslow High School.

Figures published by the NUT show that our 14 local state schools (excluding Wilmslow Grange which they did not have figures for) would be over £1.8 million a year worse off if the government introduced the proposed National Funding Formula, which would result in the loss of 45 teachers along with 1 teaching assistant at Lindow Community Primary School and the average amount that would be lost for every pupil would be £450.

George Osborne met with the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening MP, last week to raise the concerns about the impact of the new school funding formula on Cheshire. He was joined by other Cheshire MPs, including David Rutley (MP for Macclesfield) and Antoinette Sandbach (MP for Eddisbury).

Speaking after the meeting, George said "I wanted the Government to know directly how concerned local teachers and parents in Cheshire are about the new schools formula. There's no substitute to giving the message direct to the Education Secretary - so that's what I did. Everyone knows we need a new formula and that there isn't extra money lying around, but the money needs to be fairly distributed. I said when I met with local schools I would be a strong voice for them - and that's what I will continue to do. My hope and expectation is that the message is getting through."

Dr James Pulle, Headteacher at Wilmslow High School, said "All who care about the quality of education available to children and young people in Cheshire East state schools will be delighted to know that their constituency MPs have met the Secretary of State for Education to raise concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposed National Funding Formula for schools.

"George Osborne's advice was that parents, governors and staff should respond directly to the DfE Consultation and Wilmslow High School has supported this by hosting three information evenings for parents from schools in the local area. The response of those attending has been excellent and we can be confident that the DfE will have received a strong message from our community.

"If anyone would like further advice and guidance from the school please email [email protected]."

The Department for Education is consulting on the initial proposals until 22nd March. You can take part in the consultation online.

A public consultation meeting is also being held on Friday 17th March at 7.30pm in the Alexandra Suite at Crewe Alexandra FC. Organised by the NUT, speakers include Edward Timpson Minister of State at the DfE and Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner.

Additionally there will be a march against the National Funding Formula cuts to Education in Cheshire East, meeting at Sandbach boys school at 11am on Saturday, 18th March. They will then march, peacefully and on the pavement, to the Cobbles in Sandbach town.