EVERY child deserves a great education no matter where they live. Here in Redditch we are incredibly lucky to have so many ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ schools, providing a first-class education for students, writes Rachel Maclean.
It’s well known that schools in Redditch and across Worcestershire are underfunded compared to schools of a similar size only 15 miles away in Birmingham.
This is an historical issue which has occurred under successive Governments. Headteachers I’ve met in Redditch recognise this and they’ve also acknowledged that the new National Funding Formula is a step in the right direction.
However, I do understand the budgetary pressures facing schools in Redditch and across Worcestershire. This is an issue I’ve written to Education Ministers about many times and met with them to discuss.
Along with my fellow Worcestershire MPs, we will continue to lobby the Government for fairer funding.
Progress has already been made on this issue, but I acknowledge there is still a lot more to do.
Last year, the Government announced it would invest an additional £1.3bn in schools over the next two years.
As a result, the core funding underpinning the national funding formula will rise from almost £41bn in 2017-18 to £42.4bn in 2018-19 and £43.5bn in 2019-20. The fairer funding formula gives an indicative additional £2million across all Redditch schools.
The Government also announced in June a funding boost of £13million for schools in Worcestershire to create more good school places.
When talking about funding we often overlook the fantastic work of teachers. Let’s not forget that due to their hard work, 95 per cent of schools in Worcestershire are now rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted – that’s an increase of 41 per cent since 2010.
I’m not complacent though. This week I have once again written to Education Minister Nick Gibb about school funding and I hope to meet with him to discuss this further when Parliament returns after conference recess.
Rachel Maclean MP
