A GROUP of parents from Droitwich have met with local MP Nigel Huddleston to ask for his help in ensuring fair funding in education.

The parents are concerned that Government funding for education differs around the country based on what they view as outdated, historical criteria, creating funding gaps in as many as 50 local authorities where schools have had to deal with budgetary pressures, resourcefulness and charity from local fundraising groups like PTAs.

The group, who have teamed up with other parents around Worcestershire to form the Fair Pupil Funding group, want to see the system reformed, and they met with Mr Huddleston at Droitwich Library to urge him to pass their concerns on to the Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan.

The group co-ordinator, Fizz Bewley, was one of the people who met with Mr Huddleston. He said: “The Government needs to introduce a national formula that will fund every area based on its actual pupil needs. There must be a fair and scaled approach to funding extra learning support for pupils irrespective of where they live. We are pushing for urgent change because, with education cuts forecast, more than a third of schools, which are already underfunded, can no longer make do and mend. Quite simply, if nothing changes they face bankruptcy. The future of millions of our children is at stake.”

For more information on the group ‘Fair Pupil Funding’, visit fairpupilfunding.co.uk. The group also has an online petition, which will be sent to Nicky Morgan. Anyone wishing to sign can visit https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fund-all-uk-pupils-fairly.