In an answer to a Parliamentary written question asked by Michael Fabricant, Minister for Schools, David Milliband, has published a table showing that Staffordshire’s school children are still funded unfairly compared with those in other counties. This is the first time that such a table has been made public under the new system of calculating county allocations.

The table shows the average ‘formula spending share’ (fss) per pupil in primary schools and in secondary schools. (This replaces the old system of Standard Spending Assessment, SSA). "The differences are vast and unfair even under the new system" says Michael Fabricant.

"In the financial year 2003-04, Staffordshire primary schools will receive £2102 per child as the fss contribution from the Government and Staffordshire secondary schools will receive £2698 per pupil. This compares with the Surrey allocation of £2307 and £3019 and the City of London allocation of £3252 and £4322. While I can understand that the cost of employing teachers is higher in London, why do schools in Peterborough, for example, receive £2375 and £3011 per primary and secondary school pupil? In Buckinghamshire, not a poor area, the figures are £2276 and £2939. There is a huge inequity in this.

"Despite all the promises made by Labour candidates in 1997 that the Government would equalise funding for schools throughout the country by 1999, huge differences still exist – even under the new funding formula – with Staffordshire children still receiving less than those in most other counties.

"I will raise this matter in the House of Commons to see whether the Government’s funding formula can be amended so that Staffordshire schools can receive the money per pupil received in other counties", adds Michael Fabricant. "I hope parents and teachers throughout Staffordshire will contact their MPs over this".