New funds scheme for schools

Schools minister Jim Knight has told Shropshire MPs the funding formula that puts the county near the bottom of the annual payments league will be changed - but not for another three years.

It comes after Shirehall leaders yesterday lifted the axe hanging over 22 closure-threatened county schools after a dramatic u-turn.

Mr Knight told a delegation of Shropshire MPs and county councillors last night that central government funding for schools was already fixed for the next three years. But he said a new formula taking into account population sparsity in rural counties and deprivation would take effect from 2011.

The current funding per pupil in Shropshire of £3,551 is £337 less per pupil than the average for England. The county would receive an extra £13.23 million if it received the average allocation per pupil.

Owen Paterson MP, who was at the meeting, said today: “We had a very encouraging and positive meeting with Jim Knight, who was definitely listening to our arguments.”

Schools Secretary Ed Balls was in Shropshire today to announce £30 million funding over the next three years to help sports colleges provide new facilities. Mr Balls was due to speak at a conference in Telford.

Read the full coverage in today’s Shropshire Star