by Alan Quick

THE MP for Central Devon, Mel Stride, met with Rupert Poole, the Principal of Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton and the school’s chair of Governors, Deborah Leighton-Plom, to hear directly from the QE representatives of concerns regarding proposed changes to the per pupil funding formula which calculates how much authorities receive to spend on education.

A new funding formula, which is currently being consulted on, would result in some schools benefiting and others losing funding.

Devon has historically been one of the lowest funded authorities in the country, but received a boost of £16 million in 2015, meaning schools now receive £290 per pupil less than the England average rather than £480 less.

At the end of January Mr Poole wrote to all parents about the funding crisis facing Devon schools and urged them, and all members of the community, to muster all the letter writing, awareness raising and campaigning possible to try and stop nationally driven reductions in school funding proposals from going ahead.

He said QE was among those facing a “significant funding shortfall”.

He added: “We were shocked and hugely disappointed to find out that it would actually reduce our funding by £80,000. In fact, nearly two thirds of Devon Secondary schools will see their funding cut as a result of this ‘fairer’ funding formula.”

Rupert also explained the additional impact of Devon’s decision to reduce the per pupil funding it allocates to schools “as Devon is not able to afford the support required by children with special needs and disabilities, a decision was recently taken by Devon County Council to reduce school funding by a further £33 per pupil to pay back the council’s deficit. This reduces our funding by another £37,620.”

He continued: “The cumulative impact of reducing funding and rising costs is that we are faced with making savings of around £500,000 between now and 2019.

“We are very concerned that trying to save this amount of money is bound to have a negative impact on what we do. As you will be aware we have already had to make very difficult decisions last year to ensure we could operate as efficiently as possible and manage within the already reduced levels of funding we receive.”

Following the meeting, held on Friday, Mr Poole told the “Courier”: “It was a useful meeting and we were able the explain in some detail the problems with the proposed new formula and the unfairness that it perpetuates.

“I’m very grateful to all the parents and members of the community who have written in to Mel and others because it definitely makes a difference.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that our voice will be heard and the government will change the funding arrangements and stop the unfairness, but we need to keep up the pressure.  It’s not too late to write in or to complete the government’s online consultation."

Mr Stride said: "It was very good to have the opportunity to listen carefully to the points made by Rupert and his team.

“It is important not to overlook the fact that the majority of the schools in our constituency will be better off under the current proposals but, that said, I will be taking up the very important points made by QE in my discussions with the Schools Minister next week and fighting hard for the best possible outcome for our school."

The public can lobby for a change to the funding proposals:

You can also write to: Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or email: [email protected] and Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for Education, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or email: [email protected] .

• What do you think of the proposed funding changes? Why not send a copy of your letter to Mel Stride or Justine Greening to the “Courier” for other “Courier” readers to see? Or, do you have a view about school funding?

Share your views with fellow “Courier” readers. Write a letter to The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF or email your letter to: [email protected] .