Debate urged on school funds

A Shropshire MP is calling for a fresh debate about school funding after new figures revealed some areas had seen vast increases in funding per pupil in the last 10 years while Shropshire continues to get "very little".

Daniel Kawczynski, Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, said that he had written to the House of Commons Speaker requesting the debate amid growing concerns at the impact the lack of funding could have on schools in the county.

The figures, revealed by the Government in the answer to a parliamentary question, show that Shropshire saw just a 38 per cent rise in the amount of money spent per pupil between 1997-98 and 2005-6.

The county ranks 95th in the country for the percentage rise according to the figures with spending increased per child from £2,957 to £4,075.

In Telford and Wrekin there was a 37 per cent rise over the same period from £3,024 per child to £4,155.

Shropshire MPs debated the issue of funding for schools earlier this month.

At the time Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire, said the county received £337 less per pupil than average, adding that by 2010-11 this would widen to £385 per pupil.

Mr Kawczynski said: "The national figures just show the huge difference in regional funding. Certain areas have received massive growth in funding over the last 10 years and other areas like Shropshire have received very little.

"I wrote to the Speaker before Christmas highlighting my concerns. I'm hoping to secure a debate in the New Year probing the Government on the huge regional differences in funding for education with a special emphasis on trying to highlight the issue in Shropshire."

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to need extra support from their school to make that a reality. That is why funding levels reflect disadvantage in each area."

By John Kirk