In terms of Education funding, some Local Education authorities are more equal than others. For many years, despite producing the best results in the country, Trafford has been badly funded. Funding seems not to be linked to need, but decrees that if you were badly funded last year, then sure enough you will get a lousy deal this year. It can vary across different regions by as much as £3,000 per pupil. (This year the 10 best funded areas will receive an average of almost £6,300 per pupil, compared to an average of £4,208 in the 10 most poorly funded) Now the Government has committed introduce a national funding formula. Education minister Sam Gyimah says he is determined to grasp the nettle this time. In an interview with the House magazine he says: ‘We are committed to delivering educational excellence everywhere, and you can’t do that unless you’re funding on need. If you have these sort of historical discrepancies then you’re not really putting that taxpayer money where it’s needed the most.’
The changes may not be universally welcomed; the better funded areas which include some areas in London, could see a significant drop in funding as cash is redistributed. However this is about fairness. The f40 group, which includes Trafford and leads the campaign on behalf of poorly funded councils, has called on the Government to bring in changes over the course of this parliament, and with school budgets under increasing pressure there is a need for action as soon as possible. As a member of the all-party Parliamentary f40 group, I have been campaigning for change, lobbying the PM and Secretary of State. Trafford teachers have helped their pupils to achieve remarkable results despite years of unfair funding but they can only continue to do this for so long until something gives. I hope that ministers act swiftly to end this injustice.