Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris welcomed the Secretary of State for Education’s announcement of a consultation on a new funding formula for schools. 

The current system is seen by many as out of date and unfair. Head teachers have long been calling for an end to the “postcode lottery”. With an unfair distribution of funding across the country based on circumstances and decisions made over a decade ago. For the last recorded financial year, 2014-15, schools in Essex only received £4393 per pupil compared to the national average of £4550. Schools in the City of London received £8595 per pupil, almost double the amount that similar schools in Essex received.         

It is hoped the new funding formula will be introduced from 2017-18. Under the new proposals there will be a basic level of per pupil funding, with extra support allocated depending on need.

Welcoming the new proposals, Rebecca said:

“I have long been lobbying the Secretary of State for Education on behalf of the schools in Castle Point to tackle the unfairness in the school funding system. It is not right that a school just 30 miles away in the City gets almost double that which a school in Castle Point can get. The current system is based on circumstances and decisions taken over ten years ago and that just does not work anymore!   

I am pleased that the Secretary of State has announced a full review of the funding formula for schools. It is long overdue and will really help out financially the many excellent schools in Castle Point. I hope all the Head teachers in Castle Point will contribute to the consultation.”