Thousands sign school fund petitions

PETITIONS SIGNED by thousands of people from more than 100 constituencies calling for reforms to the school funding formula in England have been formally presented to Parliament tonight.

Dozens of Conservative MPs sprinted to the Commons chamber to present the petitions, which lobby for a new funding settlement - days after Chancellor George Osborne announced he would scrap the current controversial model.

Several Labour MPs, including former leadership contender Andy Burnham, also presented petitions to Parliament.

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Amid farcical scenes, proceedings to introduce the petitions were deliberately delayed by a series of points of order as MPs waited for Graham Stuart, the Conservative MP for Beverley and Holderness, to arrive and present more than two dozen of the petitions on behalf of himself and colleagues.

The proceedings appeared to catch MPs by surprise as business ended earlier than anticipated - if 90 minutes later than a typical Tuesday. Several MPs could be seen breathing heavily after running to the chamber.

When he eventually introduced the petitions, Mr Stuart said he had been caught out by the “unexpected collapse of business”.

He told MPs: “I’m grateful for the time we have been given to present petitions calling for fairer school funding from over 100 constituencies from right across England and right across this House.

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“The current funding system is arbitrary and unfair. It penalises urban and rural alike, affecting both Labour and Conservative constituencies.

“We welcome the announcement of a new national funding formula for schools the Chancellor mentioned at the Comprehensive Spending Review last week and we will continue, across the House, to make the case for reform as the Government consults on its proposals.”

At last week’s autumn statement, Mr Osborne confirmed plans to scrap a controversial funding system which has created wide variations in the amount of money available per pupil across England.

Labour and union leaders warned that the changes must not mean taking funding away from inner cities and directing it to “leafy shires”.

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The present system is based on 10-year-old data and means the 10 best-funded areas get £2,000-plus more per pupil than the 10 worst.

Under the proposals - to be published for consultation next year by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan - a national per-pupil rate will be topped up according to numbers of disadvantaged and poorly-performing students. The revised formula is due to be implemented by 2017.

Reading out the text of the petitions, Mr Stuart said: “The petitioners believe the existing school funding model in England is arbitrary and unfair.

“It further declares the 10 best funded areas of England have on average received grants of £6,300 per pupil this year, compared to an average of £4,200 per pupil in the 10 most poorly funded areas of England.

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“It further declares the petitioners welcome the Government’s commitment to introduce fairer school funding.

“The petitioners therefore request the House of Commons supports the earliest possible introduction of a new national funding formula for schools in England, and the petitioners remain etc.”

MPs often present petitions to Parliament, collected from among their constituents, at the end of the day’s business.

While coordinated action has happened in the past, it is extremely rare to see identical petitions raised in more than 100 constituencies.

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