Parents sign up for fairer funding (From Gazette Series)

Parents sign up for fairer funding

NEARLY 11,000 people have signed the fairer funding petition in a bid to force a Government rethink on Gloucestershire schools.

According to the Fair Funding for Gloucestershire Schools campaign, the allowance for this year is £274 per child below the average for England.

Now the level of unrest has prompted Stroud MP David Drew to request a meeting, taking place today, with Minister for Schools David Miliband.

Campaign spokeswoman and chairman of Hillesley Primary School governors Gillian Hayward said: "This is a fantastic response and we are very grateful to everyone who took the trouble to sign. Worcestershire parents ran a similar campaign and Leicestershire is now launching their campaign. National support for this issue is growing."

The Gloucestershire campaign group is to address the October briefing meeting the county council's leadership has with the county's MPs. The group has already visited Westminster to meet Gloucestershire MPs to discuss the next steps in the campaign.

Mr Drew said: "I'm happy to arrange a meeting with David Miliband. I think the group have a good case based on the detailed figures they have on what is needed to run our schools and the impact of low funding, particularly on class sizes and ability to meet special needs."

Nigel Jones, MP for Cheltenham, added: "I am delighted with the progress the campaign is making. Nearly everyone knows that our schools are underfunded compared to their needs and we must work together to right this unfairness."

The group has also met David Kidney, MP for Stafford, who leads the cross-party, campaign for fairer funding for schools. He stated: "I am pleased that so many parents are adding their voice to our campaign. Together, we have a better chance of getting a fairer deal for the lowest-funded education authorities in the country."