Schools Would Be Given More Money

Tim Yeo MP discusses local education issues with Cllr David Renard

Schools in Swindon would be given more money to spend on pupils under a Conservative government, a shadow minister has promised.

The pledge came from Tim Yeo, shadow secretary of state for education, during a visit to Haydonleigh Primary School yesterday.

Mr Yeo said Labour was presiding over an unfair system of funding which saw the town get a bad deal compared with other parts of the country.

"There is an inequality of funding per pupil in the hands of the Government that should be addressed," he said.

"It's unfair for headteachers, governors, children and their parents."

The existing funding formula gives all local authorities the same basic funding for pupils and then provides top-ups, taking into account deprivation and other social indicators.

Because of Swindon's relative affluence it is often overlooked in favour of poorer, inner city boroughs.

Mr Yeo acknowledged that schools in every part of the country had seen an increase in funding since Labour came to power, and said the Tories would continue to raise school budgets in real terms.

But he added that although Swindon schools may have received extra money, other authorities had received much more ­ widening the funding gap even further.

"We would review the funding formula but the evidence is pretty clear the money is not being distributed fairly," said Mr Yeo.

"Swindon schools would get more money under a Conservative government."

Jon Swaffield, headteacher of Haydonleigh Primary School in Haydon Wick, said Swindon was in the bottom quarter of the league table for school funding.

Swindon primary school pupils were attracting about £2,100 per pupil per year, while pupils in one London borough attracted £4,000.

"Why should where you live determine how much money you have?" he asked.

"Every child in the country, wherever they live, should get the same access to education and same level of funding."

Mr Swaffield said he accepted that areas facing challenging circumstances should have more funding, but pointed out that Swindon also had areas with problems.

Coun David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick), who is also a parent governor at Haydonleigh, said councillors had been lobbying Swindon's Labour MPs and the Government to make the town's funding settlement fairer, but these pleas had fallen on deaf ears.